Es-pouse', v. t.

(es-pouz'), v. t. [imp. & p. p. ESPOUSED; p. pr. & vb. n. ESPOUSING.] [O. Fr. espouser, N. Fr. épouser, Pr. & O. Sp. esposar, It. sposare, from Lat. sponsare, to betroth, espouse, from sponsus, betrothed, p. p. of spondere, sponsum, to promise solemnly or sacredly; Sp. & Pg. desposar. See SPOUSE.] 1. To give as spouse; to bestow in marriage; to affiance; to unite by a promise of marriage or by marriage ceremony. If her sire approves. Let him espouse her to the peer she loves. Pope. 2. To take as spouse; to accept in marriage; to wed. 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. Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war. Burnet.