Word Study
espionage network |
esplanade |
esplees |
espoo |
espousage |
espousal
| espouse
| espousement
| espouser
| espressivo
| espresso
espousal
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun espousal has 3 senses
- espousal(n = noun.act) bridal - archaic terms for a wedding or wedding feast; Array is a kind of marriage, marriage ceremony, wedding
- espousal(n = noun.act) betrothal - the act of becoming betrothed or engaged; Array is a kind of rite, ritual
- espousal(n = noun.act) acceptance, acceptation, adoption - the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; "its adoption by society"; "the proposal found wide acceptance" has particulars: bosom, embrace
is a kind of approval, approving, blessing
Derived form verb espouse1
CIDE DICTIONARY
espousal, n. [OF. espousailles, pl., F. épousailles, L. sponsalia, fr. sponsalis belonging to betrothal or espousal. See Espouse, and cf. Sponsal, Spousal.].
- The act of espousing or betrothing; especially, in the plural, betrothal; plighting of the troths; a contract of marriage; sometimes, the marriage ceremony. [1913 Webster]
- The uniting or allying one's self with anything; maintenance; adoption; as, the espousal of a quarrel. [1913 Webster]"The open espousal of his cause." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
espousal, n.
1 (foll. by of) the espousing of a cause etc.
2 archaic a marriage or betrothal.
1 (foll. by of) the espousing of a cause etc.
2 archaic a marriage or betrothal.
Etymology
ME f. OF espousailles f. L sponsalia neut. pl. of sponsalis (as ESPOUSE)
THESAURUS
espousal
Gretna Green wedding, acceptance, adoption, advocacy, affiance, affiliation, aid, approval, banns, banns of matrimony, betrothal, betrothing, betrothment, bridal, bridal suite, bridechamber, chuppah, church wedding, civil ceremony, civil wedding, elopement, embracement, embracing, engagement, epithalamium, espousals, espousement, forced marriage, handfasting, honeymoon, hymen, hymeneal, hymeneal rites, marriage, marriage contract, mating, nuptial apartment, nuptial mass, nuptial song, nuptials, plighted faith, plighted troth, promotion, prothalamium, saffron veil, shotgun wedding, spousal, spousals, support, troth, union, wedding, wedding canopy, wedding song, wedding veil
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