espouse
1Espouse — Es*pouse , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espoused}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Espousing}.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. [ e]pouser, L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. {Spouse}.] 1. To… …
2espouse — [v1] stand up for; support accept, adopt, advocate, approve, back, champion, defend, embrace, get into*, go in for*, maintain, stand behind*, take on, take up, uphold; concept 10 Ant. forsake, reject espouse [v2] marry betroth, catch, take as… …
3espouse — I verb abet, accept, adopt, advocate, aid, ally, argue for, assist, associate with, back, become a participator, become a partisan, champion, choose, contribute to, cooperate, defend, embrace, endorse, enter into, favor, help, join, lend oneself… …
4espouse — mid 15c., to take as spouse, marry, from O.Fr. espouser marry, take in marriage, join in marriage (11c., Mod.Fr. épouser), from L. sponsare, pp. of spondere (see ESPOUSAL (Cf. espousal)). Extended sense of adopt, embrace a cause, party, etc., is… …
5espouse — embrace, *adopt Analogous words: *support, uphold, advocate, champion, back Contrasted words: renounce, *abjure, forswear: forsake, *abandon, desert …
6espousé — Espousé, [espous]ée. part. Il a les significations de son verbe. Espousée, est quelquefois subst. Où est l espousée? voilà une jolie espousée. mener l espousée à l Eglise. On dit prov. d Une personne ajustée, & parée ridiculement, qu Elle est… …
7espouse — ► VERB ▪ adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life). ORIGIN Old French espouser, from Latin sponsus betrothed …
8espouse — [e spouz′, ispouz′] vt. espoused, espousing [ME espousen < OFr espouser < LL sponsare < L sponsus: see SPOUSE] 1. to take as a spouse, esp. as a wife; marry 2. to give in marriage 3. to take up, support, or advocate (some cause, idea,… …
9espouse — UK [ɪˈspaʊz] / US verb [transitive] Word forms espouse : present tense I/you/we/they espouse he/she/it espouses present participle espousing past tense espoused past participle espoused formal to give your support to an idea, principle, or belief …
10espouse — espouser, n. /i spowz , i spows /, v.t., espoused, espousing. 1. to make one s own; adopt or embrace, as a cause. 2. to marry. 3. to give (a woman) in marriage. [1425 75; late ME < MF espouser < L sponsare to betroth, espouse] Syn. 1. support,… …
