MESALLIANCE Meaning and
Definition
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A mesalliance refers to an unwise or improper social or matrimonial connection or alliance, typically used to describe the marriage between individuals from different social classes or backgrounds. Derived from the French word "mésalliance" meaning "bad alliance," it is currently used as a noun in English.
In terms of social status, a mesalliance occurs when a person, usually from a higher or privileged class, enters into a relationship or marriage with someone from a lower social class or lineage. The term can also refer to a marriage that is deemed inappropriate due to differences in education, religion, race, or other factors that deviate from societal norms.
A mesalliance can be seen as a breach of accepted conventions and may carry a negative connotation, implying a lack of suitability or compatibility. Societal perceptions and prejudices surrounding mesalliances have evolved over time, but historically, such unions were often discouraged or frowned upon due to concerns about loss of social status, inheritance, or reputation.
While the term is primarily associated with matrimonial connections, it can also be applied to any alliance or association that is perceived as an unsuitable or disadvantageous match, such as business partnerships or political alliances involving conflicting interests or values.
Common Misspellings for MESALLIANCE
- nesalliance
- kesalliance
- jesalliance
- mwsalliance
- mssalliance
- mdsalliance
- mrsalliance
- m4salliance
- m3salliance
- meaalliance
- mezalliance
- mexalliance
- medalliance
- meealliance
- mewalliance
- meszlliance
- messlliance
- meswlliance
- mesqlliance
Etymology of MESALLIANCE
The word "mesalliance" is derived from the French term "mésalliance", which itself is a combination of two words: "més-", meaning "mis-", and "alliance", meaning "alliance" or "marriage".
"Mésalliance" was first recorded in English in the mid-17th century and was originally used in the context of mismatched marriages, particularly in terms of social status. It referred to a union between individuals of different classes, ranks, or social backgrounds, where one party was considered to be of a lower or inferior status compared to the other.
The word has since been adopted into English to describe any alliance or marriage that is deemed unsuitable or inappropriate due to differences in social class, rank, reputation, or any other relevant factors.
Similar spelling words for MESALLIANCE
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