KJV Dictionary Definition: espousal

espousal

ESPOUS'AL, a. espouz'al. See Espouse. Used in or relating to the act of espousing or betrothing.

ESPOUS'AL, n. The act of espousing or betrothing.

1. Adoption; protection.

espousals

ESPOUS'ALS, n. plu. The act of contracting or affiancing a man and woman to each other; a contract or mutual promise of marriage.

I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals.

espouse

ESPOUSE, v.t. espouz'. L. spondeo, sponsus, the letter n, in the latter, must be casual, or the modern languages have lost the letter. The former is most probable; in which case, spondeo was primarily spodeo, sposus.

1. To betroth.

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph. Matt.1.

2. To betroth; to promise or engage in marriage, by contract in writing, or by some pledge; as, the king espoused his daughter to a foreign prince. Usually and properly followed by to, rather than with.

3. To marry; to wed.

4. To unite intimately or indissolubly.

I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Cor.11.

5. To embrace; to take to one's self, with a view to maintain; as, to espouse the quarrel of another; to espouse a cause.

espoused

ESPOUS'ED, pp. Betrothed; affianced; promised in marriage by contract; married; united intimately; embraced.

espouser

ESPOUS'ER,n. One who espouses; one who defends the cause of another.

espousing

ESPOUS'ING, ppr. Betrothing; promising in marriage by covenant; marrying; uniting indissolubly; taking part in.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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