espouse
VerbUS[ih-spouz]/ɪˈspaʊz/2 syllablesalso [ih-spous] /ɪˈspaʊs/
Open English WordNet
Verb (3)espoused, espousing
- choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans“She followed the feminist movement”“The candidate espouses Republican ideals”Synonyms: adoptfollowMore general choose, takeMore specific adhere, stickSimilar comply, follow
- take in marriage; marriedSynonyms: marryget marriedwedconjoinhook up withget hitched withMore general unite, unifyMore specific remarry, intermarry, inmarry, wive, mismarrySimilar marry, cuff
- take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own“She embraced Catholicism”“They adopted the Jewish faith”Synonyms: embraceadoptsweep upMore general acceptMore specific take up, latch on
Word of the day · Oct 14About this word
arcaneadjective
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Es·pouse′ transitive verb [past tense & past participle Espoused; present participle & verbal noun Espousing.]
Origin: OF. espouser, esposer, F. épouser, 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.— William Shakespeare
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.” Francis, Baron Verulam Bacon
Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war.— Bp. Gilbert Burnet
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54