- Espoused
- Espouse Es*pouse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espoused}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Espousing}.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. ['e]pouser,
L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p.
of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. {Spouse}.]
1. To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.
[1913 Webster]
A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. --Luke i. 27. [1913 Webster]
2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry. [1913 Webster]
Lavinia will I make my empress, . . . And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace. ``He espoused that quarrel.'' --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war. --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.