阅读理解

SacramentoSANFRANCISC0－Same－sexmarriagemightnotberecognizedinmoststatesbutitisinthedictionary．

Merriam－Websterincludedasecondarydefinition(定义)ofmarriagetorecognizesame－sexrelationshipsseveralyearsbeforegaycoupleswereallowedtotietheknotanywhereintheUnitedStatesbutthechangehadgonelargelyunnoticeduntiltheWorldNetDailynewssitereporteditTuesday．

“Oneofthenation’smostwell－knowndictionarycompanieshassettledtheargumentoverwhethertheterm‘marriage’shouldapplytosame－sexduosorbeonlyusedforthetraditionalinstitutionthathasheldfamiliestogetherforagesbysimplywritinganewdefinition”WorldNetwrotethisTuesday．

Initswebandprinteditions．Merriam－Websterdefinesmarriageas“thestateofbeingunitedtoapersonoftheoppositesexashusbandorwifeinarelationshiprecognizedbylaw．”In2003thecompanyaddedasecondarymeaningfor“marriage”as“thestateofbeingunitedtoapersonofthesamesexinarelationshiplikethatofatraditionalmarriage．”

Merriam－WebstersaidinastatementWednesdaythattheaddeddefinitionmerelyreflectedthefrequencywithwhichtheterm“same－sexmarriage”hadpoppedupinprintandbecomepartofthegenerallexicon．“Itsinclusionwasasimplematterofprovidingdictionaryuserswithaccurateinformationaboutalloftheword’scurrentuses”thecompanysaidaddingthatitwassurprisedbytherecentattentionbecauseitwas“neithernewsnorunusual．”

“Wewereoneofthelastonesamongthemajordictionarypublisherstodothis．”saidMerriam－WebsterspokesmanArthurBicknell．

Boston－basedHoughton－Mifflin．publisheroftheAmericanHeritageDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguagemodifieditsdefinitionofmarriagein2000addingafourthexampletotheentry：“Aunionbetweentwopersonshavingthecustomarybutusuallynotthelegalforceofmarriage：asame－sexmarriage．”

OnlytwostatesofthecountryConnecticutandMassachusettslegallyrecognizegaymarriagefiveyearsago．