One of the nation's most prominent dictionary companies has resolved
the argument over whether the term "marriage" should apply to same-sex
duos or be reserved for the institution that has held families together
for millennia: by simplt writing a new definition.
"I was shocked to see that Merriam-Webster changed their definition of the word 'marriage,' a word which has referred exclusively to a contract between a man and a woman for centuries. It has now added same sex," YouTube user Eric B. noted to WND.
"The 1992 Webster's Dictionary does not mention same sex at all," he wrote.
The new definition references "marriage" as the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife. But the definition also includes "the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage."
One commenter on the YouTube site said it's just part of the campaign by homosexual activists to take control of the definition of the word and make it align with their goals.
"The word 'marriage' has never been synonymous with same sex relationships," said the forum participant. "What is happening is the meaning is being changed to trigger it becoming synonymous, not the other way round."
 This excerpt is from a 1992 dictionary |
A dictionary version from 1913 that has been posted online not only didn't mention same-sex "marriage," it supplemented its definition of traditional marriage with references from the Bible.
"Marriage," it said, is "the act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife … Marriage is honorable in all. Heb. xiii.4."
It also references a quote from "Matt. xxii. 2," "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son."
 The dictionary's new definition of marriage |
But today, even the basic Webster's New World College Dictionary lists "same-sex marriage," and the Learner's Dictionary cites "a similar relationship between people of the same sex."
A WND e-mail requesting a comment or an explanation from Webster on its process of changing definitions did not generate a response.