espousal

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: es=pous=al

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.

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