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View synonyms for espouse

espouse

[ ih-spouz, ih-spous ]

verb (used with object)

, es·poused, es·pous·ing.
  1. to make one's own; adopt or embrace, as a cause.

    Synonyms: advocate, champion, support

  2. Archaic. to marry.
  3. Archaic. to give or promise to give (a woman) in marriage.


espouse

/ ɪˈspaʊz /

verb

  1. to adopt or give support to (a cause, ideal, etc)

    to espouse socialism

  2. archaic.
    (esp of a man) to take as spouse; marry
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • esˈpouser, noun
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Other Words From

  • es·pous·er noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of espouse1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French espouser , from Latin spōnsāre “to betroth, espouse”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of espouse1

C15: from Old French espouser, from Latin spōnsāre to affiance, espouse
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Example Sentences

We have sent our young to fight espousing these values, but we send them off to countries most Americans couldn’t locate on a map, and few really care about.

From Time

This, she said, was a walking back of the “facial freedom” the administration had previously espoused.

Duterte has recently started espousing vaccinations as the country’s way out of the crisis, but its inoculation program didn’t begin until March, using donated CoronaVac jabs from China.

From Time

Professors probably will start to “play it down the middle,” he said, and not address controversial viewpoints for fear of being accused of espousing them.

The constitution’s framework still espouses gender-based discrimination, particularly surrounding citizenship.

From Ozy

While these entities may find common cause in the act of sanctioning, they often espouse different goals.

Some espouse deaf culture as the better, more natural, way of life.

Meyerson is clearly perplexed by politicians who not only espouse principles but act according to them.

The right loves to bash New York's Citi Bike system, but bike share embodies the privatized, self-reliant ideals they espouse.

Instead I am going to write about the more interesting aspects of games: what sort of politics do they espouse?

This is the time when he was in correspondence with Modeste Mignon and wished to espouse that rich heiress.

He regretted that she should espouse the cause of this foreigner.

He was to proceed to France, espouse the bride in the king's name, and convey her to England.

The birds at length espouse his cause, assemble their forces, and bear him as their commander above the sky.

Catharine first wrote that Anjou "condescended" to marry Elizabeth; presently, that "he desired infinitely to espouse her."

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