I.to give a husband to one; hence to wed, marry, give in marriage to a man.
I. Lit. (post-Aug. and rare): “Vitellii filiam,” Suet. Vesp. 14: “lex (Augusti) de maritandis ordinibus,” i. e. imposing fines for celibacy in all classes, id. Aug. 34: “lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus,” Gai. Inst. 1, 178; Ulp. Fragm. 11, 20; “pleonastically: matrimonia,” i. e. to conclude, make, App. Dogm. Plat. p. 26.—Hence, absol., to marry, take a wife: “maritandum principem suaderent,” Tac. A. 12, 6.—
II. Transf.
A. Of animals and plants.
1. Pass.: maritari, to be coupled, i. e. to have a mate: “tunc dicuntur catulire, id est ostendere, se velle maritari,” Varr. R. R. 2, 10, 11.—
2. To impregnate: “(Zephyrus) glebas fecundo rore maritat,” Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, 89; so in pass., to be impregnated: “quae (feminae) ternae singulis (maribus) maritantur,” Col. 8, 2, 12; Plin. 16, 25, 39, § 93; Sol. 23.—
B. Of plants, to wed, i. e. to tie or fasten to another tree: “adultā vitium propagine Altas maritat populos,” Hor. Epod. 2, 10: “ulmi vitibus maritantur,” Col. 11, 2, 79; 4, 2, 1: “maritandae arbores,” id. 4, 1, 6; cf. id. 5, 6, 18.—Hence, mărītātus , a, um, P. a., of or pertaining to a wife.—Comic.: A. Pulchra dos pecunia est. P. Quae quidem non maritata est, yes, if not accompanied with a wife, Plaut. Ep. 2, 1, 12.—Subst.: mărītāta , ae, f., a wife, a married woman, Lact. 1, 11, 9.—Plur., opp. virgines, viduae, Hier. Ep. 77, n. 12.