Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Betroth"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Betroth
to promise "by one's truth." Men and women were betrothed when
they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year
or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman
was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was
betrothed (Deut. 28:30; Judg. 14:2, 8; Matt. 1:18-21). The term
is figuratively employed of the spiritual connection between God
and his people (Hos. 2:19, 20).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Betroth \Be*troth"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Betrothed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Betrothing}.] [Pref. be- + troth, i. e., truth. See
{Truth}.]
1. To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or
promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of
a woman.
He, in the first flower of my freshest age,
Betrothed me unto the only heir. --Spenser.
Ay, and we are betrothed. --Shak.
2. To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's
troth to.
What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and
hath not taken her? --Deut. xx. 7.
3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration.
--Ayliffe.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
betroth
v : give to, in marriage [syn: {engage}, {affiance}, {plight}]
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