[ad. L. sponsio, noun of action f. spondēre to promise solemnly, give assurance, etc.]
1. A solemn or formal engagement, promise, or pledge, freq. one entered into or made on behalf of another person.
1677. Owen, Justif., vii. Wks. 1850, III. 170. The apostle interposeth himself by a voluntary sponsion to undertake for Onesimus.
1692. Burnet, Disc. Pastoral Care, vi. 54. No Church before ours … took a formal Sponsion at the Altar from such as were ordained Deacons and Priests.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxxiv. 345. Because in the Initiation of Baptism we stuck not to the Abrenuntiations and Sponsions made for us.
1737. Waterland, Eucharist, 16. A kind of Sponsion and Security for the present and future Performance of the whole Duty of Man.
1801. J. Napleton, Advice Minister Gosp., 35. This is a great and weighty sponsion.
1850. R. D. Hampden, Charge Visit. Diocese Heref., 39. Many children have not been baptized in the Church—have never had those sponsions made for them, which the instructions of the Church Catechism presuppose.
b. spec. (See quot. 1853.)
1776. in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), I. 258. The agreement entered into by Gen. Arnold was a mere sponsion on his part, he not being invested with powers for the disposal of prisoners not in his possession.
1853. Whewell, Grotius, II. 130. Sponsions is the term we may use when any persons not having a commission from the Supreme Authority make any engagement which properly touches that authority.
2. Rom. Law. An engagement to pay a certain sum to the other party in a suit, in the event of not proving one’s case.
1632. Sanderson, Serm., 207. The Defendant also making the like sponsion and entring the like bond, in case he should be cast.
1880. Muirhead, Gaius, IV. § 13. In the same way as … the action for a definite sum of money due is perilous for a defender rashly denying his liability, on account of his sponsion.
Hence † Sponsional a., entering into an engagement or pledge. Obs.
a. 1684. Leighton, Serm., Wks. (1859), 526. It is evident that he is righteous, even in that representative and sponsional person he put on.
