espou

n. [ OF. espousailles, pl., F. épousailles, L. sponsalia, fr. sponsalis belonging to betrothal or espousal. See Espouse, and cf. Sponsal, Spousal. ] 1. The act of espousing or betrothing; especially, in the plural, betrothal; plighting of the troths; a contract of marriage; sometimes, the marriage ceremony. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The uniting or allying one's self with anything; maintenance; adoption; as, the espousal of a quarrel. [ 1913 Webster ]

The open espousal of his cause. Lord Orford. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Espoused p. pr. & vb. n. Espousing. ] [ OF. espouser, esposer, F. épouser, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. Luke i. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lavinia will I make my empress, . . .
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. espousement. ] The act of espousing, or the state of being espoused. [ 1913 Webster ]