espousal : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: espousal	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for espousal
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
espousal n archaic terms for a wedding or wedding feast [syn: bridal, espousal] the act of becoming betrothed or engaged Synonym(s): betrothal, espousal the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; "its adoption by society"; "the proposal found wide acceptance" Synonym(s): adoption, acceptance, acceptation, espousal
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Espousal \Espous"al\, n. [OF. espousailles, pl., F. [82]pousailles, 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. 2. The uniting or allying one's self with anything; maintenance; adoption; as, the espousal* of a quarrel. The open espousal of his cause. --Lord Orford.