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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
Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
Perhaps as a direct consequence of the pandemic, many brides (and in turn, designers) have pushed back against rigid conventions, opting instead for fashion-forward bridal wear styles that showcase personality over the traditional.
—Laura Neilson, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
Emily Ratajkowski, for example, wore a directional Jacquemus bridal look, Cardi B was swathed in inky Atelier Versace spring 2003 lace, Kylie Jenner came dripping in blood-red Ludovic de Saint Sernin beads, and Kim Kardashian showed that simple is often the most impactful in pearlescent Balenciaga.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
Among the looks are retro hot-pink mini dress, black feather mini and a ballet bridal moment
Selena Gomez is proving herself to be not only a musical powerhouse but also a fashion icon.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
Taylor-Joy, 27, channeled avant-garde bridal wear in a custom Dior look complete with a sheer white cotton organdy cape with a hood.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
Homeowners love to book these spaces for birthday parties, bridal and baby showers and more — enjoying the convenience of parties in a great event space without the work of entertaining in their homes.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
The rapper contrasted her bridal white with an all-black ensemble comprised of a pleated double-breasted jacket, leather gloves, sunglasses, and Prada loafers.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2024
In 2021, Anne Hathaway married her husband, Adam Shulman, wearing a bespoke Valentino bridal gown.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2023
Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Dear Amy: My godson is getting married soon and he and his fiancée are not listed on any bridal registry.
—Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024
Fantasy League judge shared an update on her wedding plans, revealing that her former bandmate Victoria Beckham is designing one of her bridal gowns.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Mattel has teamed up with bridal industry giant Azazie to create a one-of-a-kind collection of wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and flower girl looks inspired by the iconic toy brand.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
While most bridal gowns end up preserved in a box in storage, many thrifters view their wedding attire as a continuous piece in their closet.
—Stephanie Cain, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
The suit comes as the defendant, an El Paso, Texas-area resident, was arrested earlier this month on theft charges reportedly in connection to a bridal shop she is said to own.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024
Oak View Group books events such as bridal shows, dance competitions and Redsfest.
—The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024
Without further ado, find Vogue’s pick of the best bridal looks from the spring 2024 couture shows in Paris, below—and don’t forget to follow the Vogue Weddings Pinterest to see all of the best bridal inspiration from the runway.
—Taylor Anderson, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bridal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun
Middle English bridale, from Old English brȳdealu, from brȳd + ealu ale — more at ale
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing bridal
Dictionary Entries Near bridal
Cite this Entry
“Bridal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridal. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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