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A secondary meaning of Old English ealu, the ancestor of Modern English ale, was “feast, banquet,” at which the drinking of ale was a prominent activity. There were a number of these feasts and banquets that survived into the 19th century, but the oldest and best-established was the bride-ale, or wedding feast, attested in Old English as brydealu. In Middle English the ale half of the word had lost its stress and was associated with the noun suffix –al (as in funeral) and the adjective suffix (as in parental). By the 18^th^ century, bridal was perceived primarily as an adjective, as it is today.
Examples of bridal in a Sentence
Meredith Kile, People.com, 4 July 2025
Only recently have some of the traditional aspects of bridal wear first popularized by Victoria been updated for modern times.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
Escher Walcott, People.com, 14 July 2025
The launch further broadened the fashion company’s scope, which encompasses ready-to-wear, couture, bridal, accessories, eyewear, childrenswear, watches and fragrances.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bridal
Cite this Entry
“Bridal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridal. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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