from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bride \Bride\ (br[imac]d), n. [OE. bride, brid, brude, brud,
burd, AS. br[=y]d; akin to OFries. breid, OSax. br[=u]d, D.
bruid, OHG. pr[=u]t, br[=u]t, G. braut, Icel. br[=u][eth]r,
Sw. & Dan. brud, Goth. br[=u][thorn]s; cf. Armor. pried
spouse, W. priawd a married person.]
1. A woman newly married, or about to be married.
[1913 Webster]
Has by his own experience tried
How much the wife is dearer than the bride.
--Lyttleton.
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I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. --Rev.
xxi. 9.
[1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: An object ardently loved.
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{Bride of the sea}, the city of Venice.
[1913 Webster]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Bride
frequently used in the ordinary sense (Isa. 49:18; 61:10, etc.).
The relation between Christ and his church is set forth under
the figure of that between a bridegroom and bride (John 3:29).
The church is called "the bride" (Rev. 21:9; 22:17). Compare
parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13).