Es*pouse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espoused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Espousing.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. 'epouser, L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. Spouse.]
1.
To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.
A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph.
Luke i. 27.
2.
To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.
Lavinia will I make my empress, . . .
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.
Shak.
3.
To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace.
"He
espoused that quarrel."
Bacon.
Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war.
Bp. Burnet.
© Webster 1913.