mātrĭmōnĭum, ii, n. [mater], wedlock, marriage, matrimony.
I Lit. (class.): ire in matrimonium, i. e. to be married , Plaut. Trin. 3, 3, 4: in matrimonium dare, opp. in concubinatum, id. ib. 3, 2, 65: alicujus tenere, to be one's spouse : te Q. Metelli matrimonium tenuisse sciebas, Cic. Cael. 14, 34: in matrimonium dare alicui filiam suam, to give in marriage , Caes. B. G. 1, 3: in matrimonium ducere alicujus filiam, to marry , Cic. Clu. 44, 125: in matrimonium petere sibi aliquam, to ask in marriage , Suet. Caes. 27: in matrimonium collocare, to give in marriage , Cic. Div. 1, 46, 104: in matrimonium collocare (filiam), Gai. Inst. 2, 235; 238: locare in matrimonio stabili et certo, to take in marriage, marry , id. Phil. 2, 18, 44: matrimonio uxorem exigere, to put her away, repudiate her , Plaut. Merc. 4, 6, 6; so, matrimonio exturbare, Tac. A. 11, 12: dimittere aliquam e matrimonio, to put her away, to repudiate, divorce her , Suet. Tib. 49: justum matrimonium est, si, etc., lawful marriage , Ulp. Fragm. 5, 2: non justo contractum, Gai. Inst. 1, 87.—
II Transf., in plur., married women, wives (post-Aug.): matrimonia et pecudes hostium praedae destinare, Tac. A. 2, 13 fin. ; Suet. Caes. 52: severius matrimonia sua viri coercerent, Just. 3, 3; 3, 5; 18, 5: matrimonia a finitimis petita, Flor. 1, 1, 10.