Marriage: Defined

mar·riage 

1a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law 

2: an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities

3: an intimate or close union (i like this one)

love 

1: to hold dear : cherish

2a : to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for 

3: to like or desire actively : take pleasure in <loved to play the violin>

4: to thrive in <the rose loves sunlight>

intransitive verb

: to feel affection or experience desire

Related to LOVE

Synonyms: appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value, set store by (or set store on), carry a torch for (or carry the torch for), fall for, lose one's heart (to)

 (i like that "appreciate" is first on the list)

re·spect

1.esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.

2. the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.

 3. to hold in esteem or honor.

(Respect your husband! esteem his sense of worth, honor him)

hus·band

1: a male partner in a marriage

2British : manager, steward

3: a frugal manager

— hus·band·ly adjective

Related to HUSBAND

Synonyms: hubby, man, mister, old man (haha...wait until we get to the wives)

Related Words: better half, companion, consort, mate, partner, significant other, spouse; Mr. Right; soul mate; bridegroom, groom; benedict; widower; househusband

wife

1 a dialect : woman b : a woman acting in a specified capacity —used in combination <fishwife>

2: a female partner in a marriage

Related to WIFE

Synonyms: helpmate, helpmeet, lady, little woman, madam, missus (or missis), Mrs., old lady, wifey, woman

 

 

help·mate

: one who is a companion and helper; especially : wife

(shouldn't we all aim to be helpmates and best friends in marriage?)

com·mit·ment 

1a : an act of committing to a charge or trust: 

2 a : an agreement or pledge to do something in the future; especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date b : something pledged c : the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled  

 

 

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:33