also: なかびと · なかひと
noun
Archaic term for a person who arranges marriages or acts as an intermediary. In modern Japanese, 仲人 is almost always read なこうど for this meaning; the readings なかびと and なかひと are historical.
See also: 仲人 (なこうど)
昔は、結婚の際に仲人が重要な役割を果たした。
In the past, a go-between played an important role in marriage.
「なかびと」という読みは古い文献に見られる。
The reading なかびと is found in old documents.
Archaic single-kanji spelling for the reading なかびと.
The modern standard reading for the same kanji spelling, meaning 'matchmaker' or 'go-between'. なかびと is its archaic predecessor.
Compound of 中 (naka, 'middle, between') and 人 (hito, 'person'), with rendaku voicing to びと. The reading なこうど is a later contraction.