Category:Spouse

Spouse, n. Etym: [of. espous, espos, fem. espouse, f. époux, épouse, Fr. L. sponsus, sponsa, prop. p.p. of spondere, sponsum, to promise Solemnly, to engage one's self. Cf. Despond, espouse, respond, Sponsor.]

1. A man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; a married person, Husband or wife. At last such grace i found, and means i wrought, that that lady to my Spouse had won. Spenser.

2. A married man, in distinct from a spousess or married woman; a Bridegroom or husband. [obs.] At which marriage was [were] no person present but the spouse, the Spousess, the duchess of bedford her mother, the priest, two Gentlewomen, and a young man. Fabyan.

Spouse Spouse, v. t. Etym: [see espouse, and spouse, n.]

Defn: to wed; to espouse. [obs.] This markis hath her spoused with a ring. Chaucer. Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize. Spenser. She was found again, and spoused to marinell. Spenser.

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Spouse - (Song of Songs 4:8; Hosea 4:13, Hosea 4:14) may denote either husband or wife, but in the Scriptures it denotes only the latter.