Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MATCH, n.² [Sax. maca, and gemaca, an equal, fellow, companion, D. makker, Dan. maga, Sw. make.]

1. A person who is equal to another in strength or other quality; one able to cope with another. Government-makes an innocent man of the lowest ranks a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects. Addison.
2. One that suits or tallies with another; or any thing that equals another.
3. Union by marriage. Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making. Boyle. In popular language, it is applied to the engagement of lovers before marriage.
4. One to be married. She inherited a fair fortune of her own-and was looked upon as the richest match in the West. Clarendon.