A phrase from historical newspaper personal ads, explained with real examples from the archive.
Open to marriage, and looking for someone who is too.
| Type | Historical language |
|---|---|
| Category | Formula |
| Earliest example in the archive | May 19, 1888, Rocky Mountain News (Denver) |
| Most common | 1890s to the 1910s |
A slightly more romantic cousin of object matrimony. Instead of stating a goal, it described a mood: the writer was inclined toward marriage and hoped the reader was as well. The 1898 ad in the archive pairs it with a request for a partner with some capital, which gives the phrase a practical edge.
A real good girl wanted at once for matrimonial purposes, by a steady man, in the North-West Territory. Never mind looks, so long as the heart is in the right place.…
A STRANGER SOLICITS CORRESPONDENCE of ladies who are matrimonially inclined, from the ages of 20 to 30 years; only those who are sincere need apply. Address "Siva," News…
AM A NEW YORK MAN, young, good-looking, clever; returned this week from Atlin solely for purpose meeting young maiden or widow matrimonially inclined with some capital…
GENTLEMAN of middle age, good appearance, some means, wishes correspondence with lady matrimonially inclined; give full description. Address X-123. News.
REFINED lady of good appearance, with nice home, wishes to hear from gentleman matrimonially inclined; give full description. Address E-124, News.
VERY LONELY AND WOULD MEET cultured woman or widow of means matrimonially inclined. G-103, News-Times.
BUSINESS MAN 35, WORTH $35,000, lonely, in Denver for short time, would meet refined maid or widow with means, matrimonially inclined; references exchanged. J-101,…
The modern equivalents are marriage-minded and LTR.
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How this fits into 170 years of personal ad shorthand: From Object Matrimony to LTR: How Personal Ads Learned to Talk in Code.
All dictionary entries · The Personals Archive · How to write a personal ad
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