es·pouse ( -spouz )tr.v. es·poused, es·pous·ing, es·pous·es 1. a. To take in marriage; marry. b. To give (a woman) in marriage. 2. To give one's loyalty or support to (a cause, for example); adopt.
[Middle English espousen, from Old French espouser, from Latin sp ns re, frequentative of spond re, to betroth; see spend- in Indo-European roots.]
es·pous er n. |
espouse Verb [-pousing, -poused] 1. to adopt or give support to (a cause, ideal, etc.) 2. Old-fashioned (esp. of a man) to marry [Latin sponsare]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | espouse - choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans; "She followed the feminist movement"; "The candidate espouses Republican ideals"choose, pick out, select, take - pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives; "Take any one of these cards"; "Choose a good husband for your daughter"; "She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her" abide by, comply, follow - act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes; "He complied with my instructions"; "You must comply or else!"; "Follow these simple rules"; "abide by the rules" adhere, stick - be a devoted follower or supporter; "The residents of this village adhered to Catholicism"; "She sticks to her principles" | | 2. | espouse - take in marriageunite, unify - act in concert or unite in a common purpose or belief inmarry - marry within one's own tribe or group; "The inhabitants of this isolated village tend to inmarry" marry, splice, wed, tie - perform a marriage ceremony; "The minister married us on Saturday"; "We were wed the following week"; "The couple got spliced on Hawaii" wive - marry a woman, take a wife wive - take (someone) as a wife intermarry - marry within the same ethnic, social, or family group remarry - marry, not for the first time; "After her divorce, she remarried her high school sweetheart" | | 3. | espouse - take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own; "She embraced Catholicism"; "They adopted the Jewish faith"accept - consider or hold as true; "I cannot accept the dogma of this church"; "accept an argument" |
espouse verb support, back, champion, promote, maintain, defend, adopt, take up, advocate, embrace, uphold, stand up for
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