An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/vermählen

by Friedrich Kluge

vermählen, vb., ‘to marry, unite,’ from late MidHG. vermęhelen, usually męhelen, mahelen, lit. ‘to give in marriage to a man,’ also ‘to take to wife,’ whence generally ‘to affiance, betroth.’ The word is usually based on OHG. mahal, ‘hall of justice’ (see Mahl and Gemahl); it is better to proceed from the equiv. MidHG. gemahelen, OHG. gimahalen, which are derivatives of OHG. gimahala, ‘spouse.’ For other details concerning its early history see Gemahl. —