WORD OF THE DAY: CONFARREATION

​​CONFARREATION
 
NOUN
1. the highest and most solemn form of marriage among the ancient Romans, made in the presence of the Pontifex Maximus or the Flamen Dialis and ten witnesses, and marked by the offering of a cake made of spelt (a species of grain related to wheat, formerly much cultivated in Southern Europe) ...1598
2. a wedding, marriage ...1645 obs.

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin confarreātiōnem (n. of action from confarreāre to unite in marriage by the offering of bread), from con- + farreus (of spelt, corn, or grain), farreum (a spelt-cake), from far, farr-is (grain, spelt), whence farreātus, farreātio

FIRST DOCUMENTED USE
1598 - see EXAMPLE below
 
EXAMPLE
"...And it fell out that, that iust number coulde not bee founde, the vse of confarreation, or marriage with a cake of Wheate, either not vsed, or only of a few: whereof he alleaged many reasons, though the chiefest was, the carelesnes of men and women: and withall the difficulties of the ceremonies, which were willingly let slip..."
From: The Annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The Description of Germanie.
- Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Translated by Richard Grenewey