Dictionary

espousal en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /əˈspaʊzl̩/

Etymology

From Middle English espousal, espousaille, from Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia (“a betrothal”), neuter plural of sponsalis, from spōnsus (“one betrothed, a spouse”); see spouse. By surface analysis, espouse + -al.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A betrothal.
   • So he pressed her again and again with advice on the matter of espousals; but she ever opposed to him refusals, till at last she turned upon him angrily and cried, "O my father, if thou name matrimony to me once more, I will go into my chamber and take a sword, and, fixing its hilt on the ground, will set its point to my waist; then I will press upon it, till it come forth from my back, and so slay myself." 1949, Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces:
2. (countable, uncountable) A wedding ceremony.
3. (countable, uncountable) Adoption of a plan, cause, or idea.

Forms

Deriveds

nonespousal

Relateds

spouse · sponsor

Translations (4)

bg женитба (wedding ceremony) · fi häät (wedding ceremony) · fi omaksuminen (adoption of a plan) · fi hyväksyminen (adoption of a plan)