espousal

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English espousal, espousaille, from Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia (“a betrothal”), neuter plural of sponsalis, from spōnsus (“one betrothed, a spouse”); see spouse. By surface analysis, espouse +‎ -al. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /əˈspaʊzl̩/ Rhymes: -aʊzəl === Noun === espousal (countable and uncountable, plural espousals) A betrothal. A wedding ceremony. Adoption of a plan, cause, or idea. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== spouse sponsor ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === “espousal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “espousal”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “espousal”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === sepalous