Hypertext Webster Gateway: "espouse"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Espouse
(2 Sam. 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 (Jer. 2:2; Matt. 1:18; 2
Cor. 11:2). (See {BETROTH}.)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Espouse \Es*pouse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espoused}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Espousing}.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. ['e]pouser,
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 i. 27.
2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.
Lavinia will I make my empress, . . . And in the
sacred Pantheon her espouse. --Shak.
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
espouse
v 1: choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies,
strategies or plans; "She followed the feminist
movement"; "The candidate espouses Republican ideals"
[syn: {adopt}, {follow}]
2: take in marriage [syn: {marry}, {get married}, {wed}, {conjoin},
{hook up with}, {get hitched with}]
3: take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone
and use it as one's own; "She embraced Catholocism"; "They
adopted the Jewish faith" [syn: {embrace}, {adopt}, {sweep
up}]
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