[bi-troh-th
uhl, -traw-thuhl] 
| the act or state of being betrothed; engagement. |
| be·troth·al (bĭ-trō'thəl, -trô'thəl) n.
|
betrothal
promise that a marriage will take place. In societies in which premarital sexual relations are condoned or in which consensual union is common, betrothal may be unimportant. In other societies, however, betrothal is a formal part of the marriage process. In such cases a change of intention by one of the parties is a serious matter and may be referred to as a breach of promise, a civil transgression subject in some instances to a fine or other penalty
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