espousaln.adj.
/ᵻˈspaʊzl/, /ɛˈspaʊzl/, U.S. /ᵻˈspaʊzəl/, /ɛˈspaʊzəl/, /ᵻˈspaʊsəl/, /ɛˈspaʊsəl/ A. n.† 3. An espoused person; a person's betrothed; a husband or wife. Obsolete.Quot. 1543 may belong at sense A. 1b.
1. † b. The fact or state of being married or betrothed; the married state; wedlock; (also) the period during which a person remains married or betrothed. Sometimes in plural in same sense. Obsolete. to break one's espousal(s): = to break one's spousal at spousal n. 1b.
a.
(a) The performance of a ceremony of marriage or (esp.) betrothal; = spousal n. 1a. Also as a count noun: a wedding or betrothal ceremony. Now somewhat rare (chiefly historical in later use).Not always clearly distinguishable from sense A. 1c.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > [noun]
truthc1300
betrothingc1315
truthingc1350
espousala1393
troth-plighta1393
desponsationa1400
troth-plightingc1400
ensurance1469
fiançailles1477
handfasting1483
assurancea1513
assuring1530
suring1530
contract1551
insurancea1556
trothing1565
despousage1570
betrothment1585
contracting1585
affiancing1596
spousage1596
espousage1599
handfasta1616
desponsories1645
hand-fastening1662
disposories1668
contraction1702
engagement1811
plightage1819
betrothal1844
heart-bond1887
introduction1965
kwanjula1973
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > [noun]
wifethingeOE
bridelopeOE
brydthing971
bridelockOE
bridalOE
noces?c1225
wedlocka1300
spousingc1300
weddingc1300
marriagea1375
espousala1393
sponsalia1535
nuptial1566
espousing1581
nuptial1581
marriage rite1592
nuptiallings1600
Hymen1608
marriage ceremony1616
bridaltya1637
confarreation1645
hymeneals1655
farreation1656
church wedding1852
nuptialities1863
shadi1893
matrimonials1986
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 1498 (MED) What Maiden hire esposaile Wol tarie, whan sche take mai, Sche schal..Be let.
1588 A. Munday tr. Palmerin D'Oliua lv. sig. T5 I had a Daughter a yeere after our espousall.
1644 J. Milton Doctr. Divorce (ed. 2) 25 His naming of a meet or like help in the first espousall instituted.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ iii. xxvi. 96 In the interim, the Earl was commanded not to deliver the foresaid Proxie of the Prince, for the desposories or espousall untill Christmas.
1797 J. Dallaway Constantinople xxii. 353 We..were present at a Greek espousal, a ceremony which engaged our curiosity.
1870 J. Timbs Abbeys, Castles, & Anc. Halls Eng. & Wales 502 The death of Toubert..occurred about three years after their espousal.
1902 Green Bag Nov. 543/1 Women in the primitive Christian times..had two sets of ceremonies for each marriage, the espousal or betrothing, and the actual wedding.
2007 L. Bell et al. Queen & Consort iii. 60/1 The pattern for Victorian Royal Family espousals was established by Queen Victoria's own wedding in 1840.
(b) In plural in same sense. Chiefly historical in later use.
ΚΠ
1430 in H. M. Flasdieck Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1926) 94 (MED) After the espouselles solempnized by twene the seid Erle and Alice.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. avij/1 The fyrst nyght after the espousaylles..Clotyldis..said to the kyng.
1523 Act 14 & 15 Henry VIII c. 8 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 216 Every of them so maried may have..ther said offyce..as they dyd..before the said Espouselles.
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 348/1 Though shee was not paste as then fyue yeares of age..hee caused the espousels by way of procuration to be solemnized with greate feastes and triumphes.
1641 Termes de la Ley. 39 Though it [sc. the child] were borne but one day after the espousels solemnized.
1721 E. Young Revenge i. i Is not the day then fix'd for your espousals?
1726 J. Ayliffe Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 246 I shall here..define Espousals to be a mutual Promise of a future Marriage.
1779 N. W. Wraxall Let. 11 Feb. in Mem. Courts (1799) II. 160 Providence had decreed that the marriage should never be accomplished... During the interval between her espousals and the time for her quitting Vienna, her mother..insisted on [etc.].
1816 J. T. James Jrnl. Tour iii. 317 This unfortunate nobleman was forced to marry a woman of low extraction, and his espousals were celebrated with..burlesque pomp.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 251 The multitude..drank in eagerly the tale of the secret espousals and the black box.
1912 Jewish Rev. Feb. 429 The Marriage Service has two parts in the Christian Church, espousals or spousage, and the Communion.
1921 J. J. C. Petrovits New Church Law on Matrimony 37 The absence of legal obligation on the part of the betrothed to give their respective bodies to each other by means of matrimony, deprives the espousals of the force of an impedient impediment.
2007 B. A. Hanawalt Wealth of Wives iv. 80 At the espousals, he settled a jointure of London property on her that yielded a yearly value of 10 marks.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > [noun]
bridelockOE
yokeOE
spousehooda1200
spousea1225
wedlock?c1225
wedlockhoodc1230
marriagec1300
spousal1340
matrimonya1382
espousala1393
muliera1400
spousagea1400
spouseheadc1400
weddedhooda1450
wedhooda1450
wedding1489
espousage1549
the bond(s of wedlock or matrimony1552
nuptial1566
bed-match1582
bob-tail1585
Hymen's banda1593
Hymen1608
married life1609
conjugality1645
marriage state1652
conjugacy1659
marriage life1662
establishment1684
shackledom1771
connubiality1836
connubialism1848
weddedness1891
bedlock1922
the tender trap1954
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 5815 (MED) He..hadde his espousaile broke.
1431 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1431 §27. m. 5 Alianore..begetyn and born in espousels.
1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. iiiv The thyrde parte of the tenementes, whiche were her husbandes durynge the espousels.
1545 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. New Test. (1548) Pref. 15 b Estate and dignitie of espousall and mariage.
1549 H. Latimer 1st Serm. before Kynges Grace sig. Cvii He had rather be sycke euen vnto death then he wold breake his espousels.
1745 C. Viner Gen. Abridgm. Law & Equity XXI. 124 Whether J. S. was an Alien and Bastard, or the Son of W. S. born in Espousals with A.
1888 C. F. Deems Gospel of Common Sense i. 20 His [sc. Joseph's] devoutly beautiful behavior under the trying circumstances of Mary's condition during their espousal.
c. The action of marrying or (esp.) becoming engaged to someone (cf. espouse v. 1); the action of arranging the marriage or betrothal of one person to another (esp. of one's daughter to a particular man; cf. espouse v. 2b). Also as a count noun. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > [noun]
eeOE
weddingc1000
wivingOE
contractc1315
marriagec1325
matrimony1357
unionc1475
maritagec1478
briding1566
espousal1566
match1574
intermarriage1579
despousing1609
espousement1623
nuptial1630
coupling1641
splice1830
intermarrying1843
contraction1885
yokemating1891
1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xlvi. f. 278 Vouchsauing so much to abase your selfe to ye espousal of so pore a Lady.
1595 W. Allen et al. Conf. Next Succession Crowne of Ingland i. vi. 132 The betrothing..is donne by wordes de futuro or for the time to come, and is not properly mariage, but espousal only.
1695 G. B. Faith by which we are Justified 45 The Espousal of a mean person to a Prince, is by his free Love.
1797 R. Heron New Gen. Hist. Scotl. III. v. i. 390 To violate his plighted faith in respect to the espousal of his daughter.
1846 Parl. Gazetteer Ireland, 1844–5 II. 364/1 The abbey lands..passed to Michael Cromie, Esq., by his espousal of Lady Gertrude, the daughter and heiress of Ford Lambart, fifth earl of Cavan.
1889 Amer. Jrnl. Philol. 10 348 The ardent knight, who serves incognito as cupbearer to his lady-love..his further adventures and exploits..his final declaration of himself and espousal of the lady—all of these are detailed..in the usual romance style.
1984 A. J. Podlecki Early Greek Poets & their Times ii. 47 An elaborate biographical myth grew up concerning a certain Lycambes' espousal of his daughter Neoboule to Archilochus.
2007 Brit. Art Jrnl. Winter 21/2 It is highly unlikely that the marriage of Allucius and his bride refers to Buckingham's espousal of Lady Catherine Manners.
2. figurative. A union or alliance of one thing or person to another, likened to a marriage or betrothal, esp. with reference to the idea of symbolic marriage to God or Christ. Also in plural in same sense. Cf. spousal n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > [noun] > union of man with
spousal1340
unition?a1425
espousal?c1450
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > [noun] > close, intimate, or permanent joining
spousal1340
weddingc1380
solding1398
marriagec1400
espousal?c1450
soldering?1550
marryinga1566
twist1580
suture1600
welding1603
ferrumination1606
cementation1836
cementing1868
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 147 Where as was made the espoisall [Fr. les espousailles], and the alyaunce and knyttynge of the godhede vnto the manhode.
1598 F. Meres tr. Luis de Granada Sinners Guyde i. xvi. 176 What other thing is to be wished of thee, then..that thou mayst receaue in this life, the pledge, and earnest of the diuine espousals?
1611 Bible (King James) Jer. ii. 2 Thus sayth the Lord, I remember thee, the kindnesse of thy youth, the loue of thine espousals . View more context for this quotation
1638 C. Aleyn Hist. Henrie VII 142 Your Marriage is their contract, and inferres Th' espousals of those Kingdomes.
1638 G. H. in R. Sibbes Brides Longing (new ed.) Ep. to Rdr. sig. A5 Wee must make sure our espousall to Christ here.
1673 E. Pearse Best Match ii. 22 Thus I have shewen you what this Espousal or Marriage-relation between Christ and Believers is.
1707 I. Watts Hymns & Spiritual Songs i. 69 Let every Act of Worship be Like our Espousals, Lord, to Thee.
1849 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1866) 1st Ser. iii. 44 In the first espousals of the soul.
1852 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders (ed. 2) Introd. p. xxii To solemnise the espousals of sanctity with poverty.
1855 J. H. Newman Callista xix We have possession of Him [sc. Christ]. It is an espousal for eternity.
1916 D. J. Murphy tr. J. Sicardo Life Sister St. Rita xvii. 82 On the night of..her espousals with her divine Fiance, through the three vows of religion, St. Rita was the recipient of a singular favor.
2009 G. Mangiaracina Lenten Journey with Jesus Christ 217 It is out of this experience of the soul's espousal to God through Christ that the soul will be able to live a life of service to her brothers and sisters.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > [noun] > spouse, consort, or partner
ferec975
matchOE
makec1175
spousea1200
lemanc1275
fellowc1350
likea1393
wed-ferea1400
partyc1443
espouse?c1450
bedfellow1490
yokefellow?1542
espousal1543
spouse1548
mate1549
marrow1554
paragon1557
yokemate1567
partner1577
better halfa1586
twin1592
moiety1611
copemate1631
consort1634
half-marrow1637
matrimonya1640
helpmeet1661
other half1667
helpmate1715
spousie1735
life companion1763
worse half1783
life partner1809
domestic partner1815
ball and chain1921
lover1969
1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 18 To his espousaile [c1475 Harl. espouse], The dukes doughter of Melayn.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xxi. 765/1 I neither will nor intend to consent..vnto the said Lady Katherine as my espousall and wife.
1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote xxi. 137 Therefore take me, and I deliuer my selfe as thy espousall.
4. The action or an act of espousing or supporting a cause, party, opinion, course of action, etc. See espouse v. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > [noun] > supporting or encouraging > specifically a cause, principle, etc.
sustenance1387
friendliness1558
espousing1581
espousement1623
espousal1654
through-bearing1656
1654 J. Hall Of Govt. & Obed. iv. 462 The espousal of personal quarrels and injuries.
1674 W. Lloyd Difference Church & Court of Rome 34 The espousal and owning of this bloody Fact, after its execution.
1680 R. Ferguson Let. to Person of Honour conc. Kings Disavowing 13 They reckoned they had wrought him to such an espousal of his Brother.
1683 Addr. from Carmarthen in London Gaz. No. 1856/5 The Fanaticks pious pretences in the espousals and pursuits of the most Barbarous Villanies.
a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) VIII. vii. 188 The scene..is properly private revenge; not a zealous espousal of the publick injuries.
1753 H. Walpole in World 22 Feb. 46 Political reasons forbid the open espousal of his cause.
1888 W. Whitman in Cent. Mag. (1911) Dec. 254/2 John's letter appeals to me..because of its uncompromising red-blooded espousal of the book.
1932 R. Niebuhr Moral Man & Immoral Society iii. 80 It is not surprising that its espousal of the ideal of love..should be cynically judged.
1991 Afr. Affairs Oct. 582 His espousal of Nigerian nationalism before the creation of that colonial polity.
2006 USA Today (Nexis) 14 Apr. (Final ed.) (Life section) 3 d Some reporters tried to uncover contradictions between artists' espousal of the cause and their actual energy consumption.
B. adj.
= spousal adj. Somewhat rare.In some instances also interpretable as attributive use of the noun (see Compounds).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > [adjective]
bridelyOE
spousal?a1450
nuptial1490
espousal1583
sponsal1656
sponsalitious1656
internuptial1834
gamic1837
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. P A kingdome is as proper to an heire apparaunt by succession, as a wife to her husband by espousall promise.
1599 L. A. tr. M. Martínez Eighth Bk. Myrror of Knighthood xxix. sig. Mm2 They would assure all inconueniences, by an espousall contraction.
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 80 Maximilians Ambassadour..put his Legge..betweene the Espousall Sheets.
1623 T. Powell Wheresoeuer you see Mee 16 Hee findes out an old vsurer of the same parish, father to diuers daughters, who catcht at espousall preferment.
1773 J. Ross Fratricide (MS) ii. 716 To whom thus Eve..Fraught with espousal tenderness replies.
1929 R. Bridges Test. Beauty i. 5 The nightingale..practiseth every phrase of his espousal lay.
2001 P. B. Taylor Gurdjieff & Orage x. 244 The manifestations of his filial and espousal love were mystifying.
Compounds
General attributive (chiefly in senses A. 1 and A. 1c).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > ring > [adjective] > type of ring
espousal1598
troth1844
1598 B. Yong tr. G. Polo Enamoured Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 392 We concluded that the espousall rites should bee solemnized in the citie of Lysbone.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions iv. vi. 455 A mutuall engagement of both parties that they will marry each other; which is most properly an espousall-contract.
1722 J. Bingham Origines Ecclesiasticæ IX. xxii. iii. 343 Any Woman who entred into an Espousal-Contract with a Governor of a Province.., was at perfect Liberty, when the Year was ended, whether she would fulfil the Contracts.
1858 Home Nov. 216/2 This gray hair is..Death's espousal gift to me.
1868 G. A. Lawrence Brakespeare iii. iii. 70 None the less merrily the espousal feast was held in Bordeaux.
1877 W. Jones Finger-ring Lore 107 The espousal-ring of King Hydaspes.
2004 F. Graziano Wounds of Love ix. 219 Colomba da Rieti..also experienced mystical marriage authenticated by an invisible espousal ring.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.a1393