First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
espouse
verb es·pouse \is-ˈpau̇z also -ˈpau̇s\
: to express support for (a cause, belief, etc.)
es·pousedes·pous·ing
Full Definition of ESPOUSE
transitive verb
1
: marry
2
: to take up and support as a cause : become attached to
— es·pous·er noun
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Origin of ESPOUSE
Middle English, from Anglo-French espuser, from Late Latin sponsare to betroth, from Latin sponsus betrothed — more at spouse
Synonym Discussion of ESPOUSE
adopt, embrace, espouse mean to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own. adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature <forced to adopt new policies>. embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance <embraced the customs of their new homeland>. espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes <espoused the cause of women's rights>.
Rhymes with ESPOUSE
alehouse, almshouse, baghouse, bathhouse, Bauhaus, big house, birdhouse, black grouse, blockhouse, boathouse, book louse, bughouse, bunkhouse, call house, cathouse, chophouse, clean house, clubhouse, cookhouse, courthouse, crab louse, crack house, deckhouse, deer mouse, degauss, delouse, doghouse, dollhouse, dormouse, farmhouse, field house, field mouse, firehouse, flophouse, full house, fun house, gashouse, gatehouse, glasshouse, great house, greenhouse, grind house, guardhouse, guesthouse, hash house, head louse, henhouse, hothouse, house mouse, icehouse, in-house, jailhouse, joss house, keep house, lighthouse, lobscouse, longhouse, madhouse, Manaus, milk house, nuthouse, outhouse, penthouse, pesthouse, playhouse, poorhouse, ranch house, rest house, roadhouse, roughhouse, roundhouse, ruffed grouse, safe house, sage grouse, sandgrouse, schoolhouse, sea mouse, smokehouse, springhouse, statehouse, steak house, storehouse, teahouse, third house, titmouse, tollhouse, Toll House, town house, tract house, tree house, warehouse, washhouse, wheelhouse, White House, whorehouse, Wodehouse, wood louse, workhouse
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