sb. (a.) Forms: 4–5 espousaile, 5–7 espousel, -elle, (5 espoisalle, espousayl(l)e), 6–7 espousall, 6– espousal. Also SPOUSAL. [a. OF. espousailles (mod.F. épousailles), corresp. to Pr. esposalhas, Cat. esposallas, OSp. esponsalias:—L. sponsālia, neut. pl. of sponsālis adj., f. sponsus: see ESPOUSE v.]
1. In plural, formerly also in sing. The formal ‘plighting of troth’ between a man and a woman; the whole of the ceremonies constituting or accompanying this. a. The celebration of a marriage; nuptials, a wedding. b. The celebration of a betrothal.
Now merely literary and somewhat archaic. It seems probable that the sense ‘marriage’ was the original one in Eng., and that the sense ‘betrothal’ arose at a late date through the influence of L. sponsus and its derivatives, especially as used in Canon Law.
a. [c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 308. Þe courte of Rome had ordeynd þat spousale.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxix. 26. It is not of custom in oure place, that the lesse bifore we taken to sposeyls.]
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., I. I. iii. 15. The fyrst nyght after the espousaylles … Clotyldis … said to the kyng.
1523. Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII., c. 8. Euery of them so maryed maye haue … their said office … as they did … before the sayd espouselles.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 39. Though it [the childe] were borne but one day after the espousels solemnized.
1643. Milton, Divorce, X. (1851), 48. His naming of a meet or like help in the first espousall instituted.
1719. Young, Revenge, I. i. Is not the day then fix’d for your espousals?
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 251. But the multitude, always fond of romantic adventures, drank in eagerly the tale of the secret espousals and the black box.
b. 1637. Heywood, Dial., 311. My espousals remaine in my Fathers power, and not mine.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. III. xxvi. 80. In the interim, the Earl was commanded not to deliver the foresaid Proxy of the Prince, for the desposorios or espousall untill Christmas.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 246. I shall here … define Espousals to be a mutual Promise of a future Marriage.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, ix. After the espousals of the Duke of Rothsay with the Earl of March’s daughter, Douglas entered the lists to break off the contract.
1846. Maskell, Mon. Rit., I. p. ccxxii. Lyndwood tells us the distinction which there is between espousals and matrimony. ‘Sunt etiam Sponsalia repromissio futurarum nuptiarum,’ [etc.].
c. fig. esp. in spiritual sense, of the ‘marriage’ of the soul or the church to God or Christ.
[1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, 138. The spousayle that ys betweene oure Lorde Iesu Cryste and holy chyrche.]
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, cix. (1868), 147. Where as was made the espoisalle, and the alyaunce, and knyttynge of the godhede vnto the manhode.
1611. Bible, Jer. ii. 2.
1738. Wesley, Hymn, ‘Jesus, Thou everlasting King,’ ii. Let every Act of Worship be Like our Espousals, Lord, to Thee.
1849. Robertson, Serm., Ser. I. iii. (1866), 44. In the first espousals of the soul.
1850. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Mon. Ord., Introd. (1863), 22. To solemnise the espousals of sanctity and poverty.
1855. J. H. Newman, Callista, xix. We have possession of Him [Christ]. It is an espousal for eternity.
† 2. In phrases To break one’s espousal(s (= † ‘to break spouse’), to hold espousal, to violate, be faithful to, the marriage vow. Also (sing. and pl.), the married state. Obs.
[1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1621. Grete mede he getyþ … Þat wele wil holde his spousayle.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 7849 (Trin.). Isaac his son in spousaile was.]
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 322. [He] had his espousaile broke.
1545. Udall, Erasm. Par. (1548), Pref. 15 b. Estate and dignitie of espousall and mariage.
1549. Latimer, 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 36. He [King Lewis] had rather be sycke euen vnto death then he wold breake his espousals.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 8 b. The thirde parte of the tenementes, which were her husbandes duringe the espousels.
3. [With sense as if f. the vb.; cf. arrival, withdrawal, etc.] In sing. only. The action of espousing. Const. of. a. lit.
In mod. Dicts.
b. fig. [cf. ESPOUSE v. 4.] The ‘espousing’ a cause, a principle, etc.; † the taking up the defence (of a person). Now somewhat rare.
1674. Ch. & Court of Rome, 34. The espousal and owning of this bloody Fact, after its execution.
1681. in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 465/2. They reckoned they had wrought him to such an espousal of his brother [etc.].
1683. Addr. fr. Carmarthen, in Lond. Gaz., No. 1856/5. The Fanaticks pious pretences in the espousals and pursuits of the most Barbarous Villanies.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), VIII. vii. 188 (R.). The scene … is properly private revenge; not a zealous espousal of the publick injuries.
1753. H. Walpole, World, No. 8, 22 Feb., in Fug. Pieces 84 (T.). If political reasons forbid the open espousal of his cause, pity commands the assistance which private fortunes can lend him.
4. concr. An espoused person, a husband or wife.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron., Proem xiii. To his espousaile, The dukes doughter of Melayn.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xxi. § 67. I neither will nor intend to consent … vnto the said Lady Katherine as my espousall and wife.
1620. Shelton, Quix., III. xxi. 146. Therefore, said Basilius, take me and I deliver myself as thy Espousal.
5. attrib.
1598. Yong, Diana, 392. We concluded that the espousall rites should bee solemnized in the citie of Lysbone.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 80. MAXIMILIANS Ambassadour … put his Legge … betweene the Espousall Sheets.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., 348. A mutuall engagement of both parties that they will marry each other; which is most properly an espousall-contract.
1877. W. Jones, Finger-ring, 107. The espousal-ring of King Hydaspes.
¶ 6. Used as adj. Cf. SPOUSAL a.
1773. J. Ross, Fratricide, II. 716. To whom thus Eve … Fraught with espousal tenderness replies.
