Obs. Also 5–6 espowse. See also SPOUSE sb. [a. OF. espos, espus, espous (mod.F. époux) masc., espuse, espouse (mod. épouse) fem., corresp. to Pr. espos, Sp., Pg. esposo, It. sposo:—L. sponsus: see ESPOUSE v.]
1. a. A betrothed person of either sex; also a newly married person, a bride or bridegroom.
c. 1475. Partenay, 954. The Erle the espouse courtoisly forth lad.
c. 1534. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist., I. 141. The good virgin Alfreda, knowinge the deathe of her espowse … convayed herselfe into a place named Crolande.
1594. R. Parsons, Confer. Success., I. vi. 133. The heyre apparent (which before was but espouse,) is made now the true king and husband of the commonwealth.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 464–5. Some woondered why hee would not allow that the new married bridegrome should lie with his espouse.
b. A husband or wife.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xviii. (1890), 68. My true husbande & espouse.
1530. Palsgr., Ep. 4. Charles Brandon duke of Suffolke, her moost worthy espouse.
1642. W. Bird, Mag. Honor, 111. The King’s Espouse is a free person, exempted by the Common Law.
1654. trans. Scudery’s Curia Politiæ, 153. Immodest and vicious Messalina was the espouse and wife of dull and ignoble Claudius.
2. fig.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 92/2. Thou shalt haue me thyn espowse in the Royaume of heuen.
a. 1555. Ridley, in Foxe, A. & M. (1684), III. 364/2. Christ, who is the most loving spouse of his espouse the Church.
