Posts in April 19, 2020

Terms and phrases can change their meaning over time. Any word needs to be interpreted in the context of the document in which it was written and the cultural, historical, and sociological context. “Waiting on the groom” is a phrase used to refer to a man’s presence at an 1817 wedding in Maryland. The phrase likely indicated that the man was serving as what today would be referred to as the “best man” at the wedding–or at least the 1817 equivalent. The “waiter on the groom” later was testifying to the date of the marriage and his capacity at the wedding was apparently mentioned to give credence to his knowledge of the date. Probably.