spouse

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

spouse, n. [OF. espous, espos, fem. espouse, F. époux, épouse, fr. L. sponsus, sponsa, prop. p. p. of spondere, sponsum, to promise solemnly, to engage one's self. Cf. Despond, Espouse, Respond, Sponsor.].

•  A man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; a married person, husband or wife.  [1913 Webster]

  "At last such grace I found, and means I wrought,
  That I that lady to my spouse had won."  [1913 Webster]
•  A married man, in distinction from a spousess or married woman; a bridegroom or husband.  [1913 Webster]

  "At which marriage was [were] no persons present but the spouse, the spousess, the Duchess of Bedford her mother, the priest, two gentlewomen, and a young man."  [1913 Webster]

spouse, v. t. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.].

 To wed; to espouse.  [1913 Webster]
"This markis hath her spoused with a ring."  [1913 Webster]
"Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize."  [1913 Webster]
"She was found again, and spoused to Marinell."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spouse, n. a husband or wife.

Etymology

ME spus(e) f. OF sp(o)us (masc.), sp(o)use (fem.), vars. of espous(e) f. L sponsus sponsa past part. of spondere betroth

ROGET THESAURUS

spouse

Accompaniment

N accompaniment, adjunct, context, appendage, appurtenance, coexistence, concomitance, company, association, companionship, partnership, copartnership, coefficiency, concomitant, accessory, coefficient, companion, buddy, attendant, fellow, associate, friend, colleague, consort, spouse, mate, partner, co-partner, satellite, hanger on, fellow-traveller, shadow, escort, cortege, attribute, accompanying, concomitant, fellow, twin, joint, associated with, coupled with, accessory, attendant, obbligato, with, withal, together with, along with, in company with, hand in hand, side by side, cheek by jowl, cheek by jole, arm in arm, therewith, herewith, and, together, in a body, collectively, noscitur a sociis, virtutis fortuna comes.

Marriage

N marriage, matrimony, wedlock, union, intermarriage, miscegenation, the bonds of marriage, vinculum matrimonii, nuptial tie, married state, coverture, bed, cohabitation, match, betrothment, wedding, nuptials, Hymen, bridal, espousals, spousals, leading to the altar, nuptial benediction, epithalamium, sealing, torch of Hymen, temple of Hymen, hymeneal altar, honeymoon, bridesmaid, bridesman, best man, bride, bridegroom, married man, married woman, married couple, neogamist, Benedict, partner, spouse, mate, yokemate, husband, man, consort, baron, old man, good man, wife of one's bosom, helpmate, rib, better half, gray mare, old woman, old lady, good wife, goodwife, feme, feme coverte, squaw, lady, matron, matronage, matronhood, man and wife, wedded pair, Darby and Joan, spiritual wife, monogamy, bigamy, digamy, deuterogamy, trigamy, polygamy, mormonism, levirate, spiritual wifery, spiritual wifeism, polyandrism, Turk, bluebeard, unlawful marriage, left-handed marriage, morganatic marriage, ill- assorted marriage, mesalliance, mariage de convenance, marriage broker, matrimonial agency, matrimonial agent, matrimonial bureau, matchmaker, schatchen, married, one, one bone and one flesh, marriageable, nubile, engaged, betrothed, affianced, matrimonial, marital, conjugal, connubial, wedded, nuptial, hymeneal, spousal, bridal, the gray mare the better horse, a world-without-end bargain, marriages are made in Heaven, render me worthy of this noble wife, si qua voles apte nubere nube pari.