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
- A betrothal; A wedding ceremony; Adoption of a...
Ancestry of “espousal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | espousal | — |
| 2 | Old French | espousailles | — |
| 3 | Latin | sponsalia | betrothal, espousal; wedding |
| 4 | Latin | sponsalis | of betrothal |
| 5 | Latin | sponsa | bride; fiancée |
| 6 | Latin | sponsus | A groom; A fiancé; A bail, surety |
| 7 | Latin | spondeo | I promise, bind or pledge myself, contract, vow;... |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | spondeō | to promise, to pledge |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | spondéyeti | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | spend- | to libate |