New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Espouse — Es*pouse , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espoused}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Espousing}.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. [ e]pouser, L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. {Spouse}.] 1. To… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
espouse — [v1] stand up for; support accept, adopt, advocate, approve, back, champion, defend, embrace, get into*, go in for*, maintain, stand behind*, take on, take up, uphold; concept 10 Ant. forsake, reject espouse [v2] marry betroth, catch, take as… … New thesaurus
espouse — I verb abet, accept, adopt, advocate, aid, ally, argue for, assist, associate with, back, become a participator, become a partisan, champion, choose, contribute to, cooperate, defend, embrace, endorse, enter into, favor, help, join, lend oneself… … Law dictionary
espouse — mid 15c., to take as spouse, marry, from O.Fr. espouser marry, take in marriage, join in marriage (11c., Mod.Fr. épouser), from L. sponsare, pp. of spondere (see ESPOUSAL (Cf. espousal)). Extended sense of adopt, embrace a cause, party, etc., is… … Etymology dictionary
espouse — embrace, *adopt Analogous words: *support, uphold, advocate, champion, back Contrasted words: renounce, *abjure, forswear: forsake, *abandon, desert … New Dictionary of Synonyms
espousé — Espousé, [espous]ée. part. Il a les significations de son verbe. Espousée, est quelquefois subst. Où est l espousée? voilà une jolie espousée. mener l espousée à l Eglise. On dit prov. d Une personne ajustée, & parée ridiculement, qu Elle est… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
espouse — ► VERB ▪ adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life). ORIGIN Old French espouser, from Latin sponsus betrothed … English terms dictionary
espouse — [e spouz′, ispouz′] vt. espoused, espousing [ME espousen < OFr espouser < LL sponsare < L sponsus: see SPOUSE] 1. to take as a spouse, esp. as a wife; marry 2. to give in marriage 3. to take up, support, or advocate (some cause, idea,… … English World dictionary
espouse — UK [ɪˈspaʊz] / US verb [transitive] Word forms espouse : present tense I/you/we/they espouse he/she/it espouses present participle espousing past tense espoused past participle espoused formal to give your support to an idea, principle, or belief … English dictionary
espouse — espouser, n. /i spowz , i spows /, v.t., espoused, espousing. 1. to make one s own; adopt or embrace, as a cause. 2. to marry. 3. to give (a woman) in marriage. [1425 75; late ME < MF espouser < L sponsare to betroth, espouse] Syn. 1. support,… … Universalium
espouse — verb Espouse is used with these nouns as the object: ↑belief, ↑idea, ↑ideal, ↑ideology, ↑philosophy, ↑view, ↑virtue … Collocations dictionary
