Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “espousal” come from?

espousal (English) comes from Middle English espousal, from Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia, from Latin sponsalis, from Latin sponsa, from Latin sponsus, from Latin spondeo, from Proto-Italic spondeō — to libate.

espousal (English): A betrothal; A wedding ceremony; Adoption of a...

Definitions

  1. A betrothal; A wedding ceremony; Adoption of a...

Ancestry of “espousal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishespousal—
2Old Frenchespousailles—
3Latinsponsaliabetrothal, espousal; wedding
4Latinsponsalisof betrothal
5Latinsponsabride; fiancée
6LatinsponsusA groom; A fiancé; A bail, surety
7LatinspondeoI promise, bind or pledge myself, contract, vow;...
8Proto-Italicspondeōto promise, to pledge
9Proto-Indo-Europeanspondéyeti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanspend-to libate
Every word from Proto-Indo-European spend- →