Category:Espouse

Es*pouse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espoused; p. pr. & vb. n. Espousing.] Etym: [OF. espouser, esposer, F. épouser, L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. Spouse.]

1. To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse. A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. Luke 1:27.

2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.

3. To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace. "He espoused that quarrel." Bacon. Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war. Bp. Burnet.

---  ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Espouse - (2 Samuel 3:14), to betroth. The espousal was a ceremony of betrothing, a formal agreement between the parties then coming under obligation for the purpose of marriage. Espousals are in the East frequently contracted years before the marriage is celebrated. It is referred to as figuratively illustrating the relations between God and his people (Jeremiah 2:2; Matthew 1:18; 2 Corinthians 11:2). (See BETROTH.)