eˈspousing, vbl. n.
Also 6 espousein.
[f. espouse v. + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. espouse in various senses.
| 1531 Dial. on Laws Eng. ii. xxv. (1638) 106 A Man hath two sons, one borne before espousein, and the other after espousels. 1632 Sherwood, An espousing, mariement. 1687 Bp. Cartwright in Magd. Coll. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) 188 The espousing of your cause. |