释义 |
es·pouse I. \ə̇ˈspau̇z, eˈ- also -au̇s\ transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English espousen, from Middle French espouser, from Late Latin sponsare to betroth, espouse, from Latin sponsus 1. a. : to take as spouse : wed; usually : to take as wife b. : to give in marriage 2. obsolete : to promise in marriage : betroth 3. a. : to come to believe in : attach oneself to and seek to maintain, support, further, and defend < the causes we espouse elsewhere must be as true to our ideals and character as those we sponsor here — W.O.Douglas > b. : to adopt usually as a matter of policy or practicality < will have to work out some better scheme in repertory than it now espouses — Saturday Review > < Hamlet, the passionate lover of sincerity, has espoused insincerity as his weapon and armor — Karl Polanyi > Synonyms: see adopt II. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French espous, espos (masculine), espouse, espose (feminine) — more at spouse obsolete : spouse |