betroth, v.
(bɪˈtrəʊð, -ˈtrɒθ, -ɔː-)
Forms: 4 bitreuthien, betreuþe, -trouþe, -treuthy, 5–6 betrouth(e, 6 betrothe, troughth, 7 betroath, 6– betroth.
[ME. bitreuðien, f. bi-, be- 6 + ME. treuðe, treowðe, truth n.; Mätzner suggests after the analogy of OE. tréowsian to give one's word, pledge. Subsequently assimilated to the form trouthe, troth; since this is now shortened to trǫþ, the same sound is by many extended to the vb., but the historical and analogical pronunciation is as in clothe, loathe.]
1. trans. To engage (a woman) in contract of marriage, to plight one's troth to. arch.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1704 Þou shal nat betrouþe a womman wyþ hande Þe whylys here husbande ys lyvande. c 1315 Shoreham 70 Ȝef thou myd word..Aryȝt bitreuthest one. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2105 By þe hond þanne he tok hur sone{revsc} & be-treuþede þat swete wiȝt. 1426 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 136 Herry..Of Englond kyng..Betrouthed hath my lady Kateryne. 1611 Bible Deut. xx. 7 What man is there that hath betrothed a wife. 1653 Holcroft Procopius i. 15 Having betroathed a handsome Maid, an Inheritrix. [1844 Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. viii. (1858) II. 6 (transl. of an OE. law) If a man wish to betroth a maiden.] |
2. To contract two persons to each other in order to marriage; to affiance. (More usually, but not exclusively, said of contracting the female to her future husband.)
| 1566 Painter Pal. Pleas. I. 21 They had betrouthed their doughter, to one L. Icilius. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 288 You..betroth'd, and would haue married her perforce to Countie Paris. 1684 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 130 Let Christiana look out some Damsels for her Sons; to whom they may be Betroathed. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne v. 151 The lovers were soon after betrothed. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 80 She was soon after betrothed to the Dauphin. 1864 D. Mitchell Sev. Stor. 225 He was very early betrothed to a daughter of the Contarini. |
b. In the
pass., now commonly used, senses 1 and 2 are blended.
| c 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon v. 108 They'll be betrothed each to other. 1685 Baxter Paraphr. Luke i. 26 Not married, but betrothed. |
3. fig. Said of God and his Church or people. Also, said of the relation of a bishop to a church before consecration.
| 1611 Bible Hosea ii. 19, I will betroth thee vnto me for euer. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 195 If any Person be consecrated a Bishop to that Church, whereunto he was not before betrothed, he shall not receive the Habit of Consecration, as not being canonically promoted. 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 13 God made the soul for Himself; He betrothed her to Himself through the gift of the Holy Spirit. |
† 4. transf. a. To pledge, engage.
b. To pledge or engage oneself to, to espouse (a cause).
Obs.| 1566 Gascoigne Jocasta Wks. (1587) 102 To privat fight they have betrotht themselves. 1575 Brieff Disc. Troub. Franckford 202 They will not slack to vowe and betrothe their whole diligence. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado i. iii. 49 What is hee for a foole that betrothes himselfe to vnquietnesse? 1670 Walton Lives i. 13 At that time [he] had betrothed himself to no religion. |
| b. 1658 T. Wall Comm. Times 68 While he thought to betroth a Deity, he betrayed humanity. 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. Ep. Ded., Those that have betrothed the Way. |