espousedadj.n.

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke i. f. xxi^v From the which stocke of Dauid, the espoused virgin [L. sponsa] also had her progenie.

1585 J. Sharrock tr. C. Ocland Valiant Actes & Victorious Battailes Eng. Nation ii. sig. K3 The narrow league of frendship plight, and wife requirde the same, To whom with her espoused feere, all daungers equall came.

1611 Bible (King James) Luke ii. 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife. View more context for this quotation

1660 J. Glanvill Vanity Dogm. xiii. 120 The beloved Opinion being..wedded to the Intellect; the case of our espoused self becomes our own.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 710 With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed. View more context for this quotation

?1785 P. Hill Novel & Genuine Display Human Mind Ep. Ded. 6 Warm in the cause of Loyalty and Virtue, of glorious Liberty, and their Country's good, in his espoused cause.

1799 W. Wennington tr. A. H. J. Lafontaine Man of Nature xxxvi. 329 The young espoused pair passed a couple of days longer at Hillnett-House.

1825 T. Strange Elem. Hindu Law I. ii. 54 The law distinguishing between the wife, and the espoused woman.

1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. iii. 39 The female..was still more actively propagating the espoused doctrines.

1919 A. S. McPherson This is That iii. 481 Mother would not understand, Father would misunderstand, Joseph, her espoused husband would think evil of her.

1962 B. T. Eiduson Scientists vi. 219 This quotation represents a frequently espoused view.

2000 D. Sorenson Have Heavenly Marriage viii. 127 When Jesus Christ returns in the rapture, it will be to take His espoused bride unto Himself.

1554 W. Prat tr. J. Boemus Discr. Aphrique vi. sig. H.vii^v The espoused is bounde to presente hym selfe to all them of the feast.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 18 My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found. View more context for this quotation

1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. May (1965) I. 411 The espous'd never see one another till 3 days after their Marriage.

1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. i. 138 My own first espoused.

1835 E. Greswell Expos. Parables V. i. 447 [Their] proper relation to each other, from the time of the formation of the nuptial contract, to the period of the marriage solemnity, would be that of the espouser and of the espoused.

1898 E. Shaftesbury Two Sexes vii. 129 A young man who never could get an every-day view of his espoused, was deeply impressed on one occasion by her beauty.

1973 H. P. Williams Do yourself Favor iii. 39 God used a woman named Mary, the espoused of Joseph, to begin a new generation.

2015 M. Campbell Avelynn xiv. 179 She was..able to collect the dowry her espoused had promised.