espousal

[ ih-spou-zuhl, -suhl ]
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noun
  1. adoption or advocacy, as of a cause or principle.

  2. Sometimes espousals.

    • a marriage ceremony.

    • an engagement or betrothal celebration.

Origin of espousal

1
1275–1325; Middle English espousaille<Middle French, Old French espousailles<Latin spōnsālia (noun use of neuter plural of spōnsālis), equivalent to spōns(us) spouse + -ālia-al2

Other words from espousal

  • non·es·pous·al, noun

Words Nearby espousal

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How to use espousal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for espousal

espousal

/ (ɪˈspaʊzəl) /


noun
  1. adoption or support: an espousal of new beliefs

  2. (sometimes plural) archaic a marriage or betrothal ceremony

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