espousal
noun/əˈspaʊzl̩/
Etymology From Middle English espousal, espousaille, from Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia (“a betrothal”), neuter plural of sponsalis, from spōnsus (“one betrothed, a spouse”); see spouse. By surface analysis, espouse + -al.
1
A betrothal.
- So he pressed her again and again with advice on the matter of espousals; but she ever opposed to him refusals, till at last she turned upon him angrily and cried, "O my father, if thou name matrimony to me once more, I will go into my chamber and take a sword, and, fixing its hilt on the ground, will set its point to my waist; then I will press upon it, till it come forth from my back, and so slay myself."1949, Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces:
2
A wedding ceremony.
3
Adoption of a plan, cause, or idea.
- Derived terms
- nonespousal