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espousal, n. (a.)|ɪˈspaʊzəl|
Forms: 4–5 espousaile, 5–7 espousel, -elle, (5 espoisalle, espousayl(l)e), 6–7 espousall, 6– espousal. Also spousal.
[a. OF. espousailles (mod.F. épousailles), corresp. to Pr. esposalhas, Cat. esposallas, OSp. esponsalias:—L. sponsālia, neut. pl. of sponsālis adj., f. sponsus: see espouse v.]
1. In pl., formerly also in sing. The formal ‘plighting of troth’ between a man and a woman; the whole of the ceremonies constituting or accompanying this.
a. The celebration of a marriage; nuptials, a wedding.
b. The celebration of a betrothal.
Now merely literary and somewhat archaic. It seems probable that the sense ‘marriage’ was the original one in Eng., and that the sense ‘betrothal’ arose at a late date through the influence of L. sponsus and its derivatives, especially as used in Canon Law.
a. [c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 308 Þe courte of Rome had ordeynd þat spousale. 1382Wyclif Gen. xxix. 26 It is not of custom in oure place, that the lesse bifore we taken to sposeyls.] 1485Caxton Chas. Gt. i. i. iii. 15 The fyrst nyght after the espousaylles..Clotyldis..said to the kyng. 1523Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII, c. 8 Euery of them so maryed maye haue..their said office..as they did..before the sayd espouselles. 1641Termes de la Ley. 39 Though it [the childe] were borne but one day after the espousels solemnized. 1643Milton Divorce x. (1851) 48 His naming of a meet or like help in the first espousall instituted. 1719Young Revenge i. i, Is not the day then fix'd for your espousals? 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 251 The multitude.. drank in eagerly the tale of the secret espousals and the black box.
b.1637Heywood Dial. 311 My espousals remaine in my Fathers power, and not mine. c1645Howell Lett. i. iii. xxvi. (1655) I. 146 In the interim the Earl was commanded not to deliver the aforesaid Proxy of the Prince for the desponsorios or espousall untill Christmas. 1726Ayliffe Parerg. 246, I shall here..define Espousals to be a mutual Promise of a future Marriage. 1828Scott F.M. Perth ix, After the espousals of the Duke of Rothsay with the Earl of March's daughter, Douglas entered the lists to break off the contract. 1846W. Maskell Mon Rit. I. p. ccxxii, Lyndwood tells us the distinction which there is between espousals and matrimony. ‘Stunt etiam Sponsalia repromissio futurarum nuptiarum,’ etc.
c. fig. esp. in spiritual sense, of the ‘marriage’ of the soul or the church to God or Christ.
[1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 138 The spousayle that ys betweene oure Lorde Iesu Cryste and holy chyrche.] a1450Knt. de la Tour cix. (1868) 147 Where as was made the espoisalle, and the alyaunce, and knyttynge of the godhede vnto the manhode. 1611Bible Jer. ii. 2. 1738 Wesley Hymn, ‘Jesus, Thou everlasting King’ ii, Let every Act of Worship be Like our Espousals, Lord, to Thee. 1849Robertson Serm. Ser. i. iii. (1866) 44 In the first espousals of the soul. 1850A. Jameson Leg. Mon. Ord. Introd. (1863) 22 To solemnise the espousals of sanctity and poverty. 1855J. H. Newman Callista xix, We have possession of Him [Christ]. It is an espousal for eternity.
†2. In phrases to break one's espousal(s (= † ‘to break spouse’), to hold espousal, to violate, be faithful to, the marriage vow. Also (sing. and pl.), the married state. Obs.
[1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1621 Grete mede he getyþ..Þat wele wil holde his spousayle. c1340Cursor M. 7849 (Trin.) Isaac his son in spousaile was.] 1393Gower Conf. II. 322 [He] had his espousaile broke. 1545Udall Erasm. Par. (1548) Pref. 15 b, Estate and dignitie of espousall and mariage. 1549Latimer 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 36 He [King Lewis] had rather be sycke euen vnto death then he wold breake his espousals. 1574tr. Littleton's Tenures 8 b, The thirde parte of the tenementes, which were her husbandes duringe the espousels.
3. [With sense as if f. the vb.; cf. arrival, withdrawal, etc.] In sing. only. The action of espousing. Const. of.
a. lit.
In mod. Dicts.
b. fig. [cf. espouse v. 4] The ‘espousing’ a cause, a principle, etc.; † the taking up the defence (of a person). Now somewhat rare.
1674Ch. & Court of Rome 34 The espousal and owning of this bloody Fact, after its execution. 1681in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793) 466 They reckoned they had wrought him to such an espousal of his brother, etc. 1683Addr. fr. Carmarthen in Lond. Gaz. No. 1856/5 The Fanaticks pious pretences in the espousals and pursuits of the most Barbarous Villanies. a1716South Serm. VIII. vii. (R.), The scene..is properly private revenge, not a zealous espousal of the publick injuries. a1797H. Walpole (T.), Political reasons forbid the open espousal of his cause.
4. concr. An espoused person, a husband or wife.
c1470Harding Chron. Proem xiii, To his espousaile, The dukes doughter of Melayn. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxi. §67, I neither will nor intend to consent..vnto the said Lady Katherine as my espousall and wife. 1620Shelton Quix. III. xxi. 146 Therefore, said Basilius, take me and I deliver myself as thy Espousal.
5. attrib.
1598Yong Diana 392 We concluded that the espousall rites should bee solemnized in the citie of Lysbone. 1622Bacon Hen. VII, 80 Maximilians Ambassadour..put his Legge..betweene the Espousall Sheets. 1649Bp. Hall Cases Consc. 348 A mutuall engagement of both parties that they will marry each other; which is most properly an espousall-contract. 1877W. Jones Finger-ring 107 The espousal-ring of King Hydaspes.
¶6. Used as adj. Cf. spousal a.
1773J. Ross Fratricide ii. 716 To whom thus Eve..Fraught with espousal tenderness replies. |