Obs. Forms: 4 spous-, 5 spousehed, spous(e)ed, spowse-, 5–6 spousehede, 6 -hedde. [f. SPOUSE sb. + -HEAD.] = next.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 162. Þei synnen most grevousely in brekyng of Gods spousehed.
14[?]. R. Glouc. Chron., 3370 (MS. Digby 205), fol. 51 b. He founde Ioye for þe Countas of spousehed [v.rr. spoushed, spousehede] was vnbounde.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 392. When oure Lord comyth in his spoused pure.
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 143. She was wedded to the kynge of heuen & myght not broke that spouschede.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1875), 68. Yf the storke by anye meanes perceve that his female hath brooked spousehedde, he will no moore dwell with her.
