† spousess Obs.
Forms: 4–7 spousesse, 5–7 spowsesse, 6 spouses.
[f. spouse n. + -ess1.]
A female spouse; a wife, bride. Also, a betrothed or affianced woman.
Chiefly fig. in religious use (cf. spouse n. 3).
| 1388 Wyclif Isaiah lxi. 11 As a spouse made feir with a coroun, and as a spousesse ourned with her brochis. 1395 Purvey Remonstr. (1851) 53 Bi sovereyn wisdom, goodnesse, and love to holi chirche his spousesse. c 1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 21 The Spouse loueth the Spousesse, the Sauyour visiteth hir. c 1480 in Lib. Pontif. Bainbridge (Surtees) 238 To kepe us his true handmaydyns, virgins, and spousessis. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 3076 Her spouse Ihesus hauynge pyte and cure Vpon his spouses. 1547 tr. Abp. Herman's Consultation H h vj, They whiche haue mutually promised matrimonie betwene themselues shal go both the spouse and spousesse [etc.]. 1615 Curry-Combe for Coxe-Combe iv. 157 The Mother of Christians, the Spousesse of the Holy Ghost. |