(Saxon, bryd), a newly-married woman. In its true and original signification it denoted a woman espoused or contracted to be married; and, in an analogous sense, its use is still retained in Scotland.

Among the Athenians betrothment was indispensable to the validity of a marriage-contract. On the wedding-day it was the custom for the bride, closely veiled, to be conducted to her husband's house in a chariot drawn by mules or oxen. She was seated between her husband and one of his most intimate friends; lighted torches were carried before her; and as the procession moved along she was entertained with the hymenean song, which was sung to the accompaniment of Lydian flutes, as described in the Iliad, xviii. 490. When they alighted, it was usual in some places to burn the axle-tree of the carriage, to signify that the bride was to remain at her husband's house. The threshold being crossed, sweetmeats were showered upon the wedded pair, as emblems of plenty and prosperity. Then came the nuptial feast, to which, contrary to the usual practice, women as well as men were invited, though the women appear to have sat at a separate table with the bride. As marriage among the Greeks was celebrated without any public rite, either civil or religious, the guests assembled on such occasions appear to have been regarded in the light of witnesses to the fact. At the conclusion of the feast the bride was conducted by her husband to the bridal chamber; and then the Epitalanium or nuptial song was sung before the doors of the apartment. (See Theoc. Idyl. xviii.) In the heroic age, as described by Homer, women were held in greater estimation, and enjoyed a much higher social position than in subsequent times, when the restrictions imposed upon their liberty appear to have been of a kind not very dissimilar to those which exist among oriental nations at the present day. The usage of the Dorians, however, and especially at Sparta, formed a striking contrast to that of the Ionians; for the Dorian women continued in the possession of almost unrestricted liberty, so much so, indeed, as to have given occasion for serious charges against their moral character.

Among the Romans the custom of taking the bride by apparent force from the arms of her mother or guardian, was kept up in memory, it is said, of the rape of the Sabines under Romulus. A similar practice appears to have existed as a relic of antiquity at Sparta. (Herodot. vi. 65). Preparatory to the nuptials of the Romans, a meeting of friends was sometimes held at the house of the woman, for the purpose of settling the marriage-contract and other preliminaries; and on this occasion it was customary, at least during the imperial period, for the future husband to place a ring on the finger of his betrothed. On the marriage-day the bride appeared in a white robe, adorned with a purple fringe or with ribands, and fastened at the waist with a girdle, which at night was unloosed by the husband. The hair of the bride was divided on this occasion with the point of a spear; and she wore a veil, which, as well as her shoes, was of a bright yellow colour. Attended by a numerous train of friends, she was carried home in the evening to the bridegroom's house, accompanied by three boys, one of whom carried a torch, and the other two led the bride, who held a spindle and distaff. She brought three pieces of money, called asses, in her hand to the bridegroom, whose doors on this occasion were adorned with flowers and branches of trees. Being there interrogated who she was, she answered Caia, in memory of Caia Cecilia, wife of Tarquin the elder, who was an excellent lauficea or spintrissa; and before her entrance she lined the door-posts with wool, and smeared them with grease. Fire and water being set on the threshold, she touched both; but, starting back from the door, refused to enter, till at length she passed the threshold, being careful to step over without touching it. Then the keys were delivered to her, a nuptial supper was prepared, and minstrels attended. She was seated on the figure of a priapus, and in this situation the attendant boys resigned her to the promulus, who brought her into the nuptial chamber and put her to bed. This office was performed by the promulus, matrons who had been only once married, to denote that the marriage was to be in perpetuity.

The Roman matrons held quite a different position from that of married women among the Greeks; the wife being mistress of the household, and sharing the honours of her husband. See Marriage, and Divorce.