Morganatic

[,mɒ:gә'nætik]

Definition

(adj.) (of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the understanding that the rank of the inferior remains unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or property of the superior .

Checker: Roberta--From WordNet

Definition

(a.) Pertaining to, in the manner of, or designating, a kind of marriage, called also left-handed marriage, between a man of superior rank and a woman of inferior, in which it is stipulated that neither the latter nor her children shall enjoy the rank or inherit the possessions of her husband.

Checker: Tanya

Definition

adj. noting a marriage of a man with a woman of inferior rank in which neither the latter nor her children enjoy the rank or inherit the possessions of her husband though the children are legitimate—also Left-handed marriage.—adv. Morganat′ically.

Edited by Christine