† spousehead Obs.
Forms: 4 spous-, 5 spousehed, spous(e)ed, spowse-, 5–6 spousehede, 6 -hedde.
[f. spouse n. + -head.]
= next.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 162 Þei synnen most grevousely in brekyng of Gods spousehed. 14.. R. Glouc. Chron. 3370 (MS. Digby 205) fol. 51 b, He founde Ioye for þe Countas of spousehed [v.rr. spoushed, spousehede] was vnbounde. c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 392 When oure Lord comyth in his spoused pure. 1493 Festivall (W. de W. 1515) 143 She was wedded to the kynge of heuen & myght not breke that spousehede. 1599 Thynne Animadv. (1875) 68 Yf the storke by anye meanes perceve that his female hath brooked spouse⁓hedde, he will no moore dwell with her. |