▪ I. spouse, n.
(spaʊz, -s)
Forms: 3–4 spus, spuse, 3– spouse, 4 spouce; 4 spows, 5 spowce, 5–8 spowse, 6 spowze; also Sc. 5 spoys, 6 spouis(s, 6–7 spous, 8 spuse.
[a. OF. spus, spous masc., spuse fem., varr. of espus, espouse, etc.: see espouse n. In some early ME. instances (see 3) the masc. spus is distinct from the fem. spuse.]
1. A married woman in relation to her husband; a wife; † a bride. Usually with possessive pronouns, of, or to.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 135 Elizabet þi spuse shal hauen a cnauechild. c 1250 Owl & Night. 1527 Þat were gulte Þat leof is oþer wymmon to pulte..& haueþ atom his rich[t]e spuse. a 1300 Cursor M. 3043 Þof ysmael be noght o spus, O him sal gret men cum and crus. 13.. Sir Beues 143 And þow schelt after her wedde to spouse, To þin amy. a 1400–50 Alexander 2677 Þare fand he..þe trew spouse Of ser Dary. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 40 To you, dere herte, my veray trouthe I plihte As to my spouse. a 1553 Udall Royster D. v. i, Sir,..doe not ye therfore your faithfull spouse mystrust. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. v. 67 So qualified, as may beseeme The Spouse of any noble Gentleman. c 1614 Sir W. Mure Dido & æneas i. 200, I,..Jove's spowse, and sister, heaven's arch-empresse great. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 169 The fishie fume, That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse Of Tobits Son. 1711 S. Sewall Diary 1 Feb., He thanks me for my Respect to him and his Spouse. 1782 Cowper Gilpin ii, John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear [etc.]. 1833 Tennyson Dream Fair Women xli, A name for ever!—lying robed and crown'd, Worthy a Roman spouse. 1870 Bryant Iliad i. I. 30 Thou wilt find the task Too hard for thee, although thou be my spouse. 1877 M. M. Grant Sun-Maid i, He chose Lady Anna as a fitting spouse because he liked her rank. |
| fig. 1859 E. FitzGerald Omar xl, [How I] Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed, And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse. |
b. Used as a term of address. (Also in sense 2.)
| c 1386 Chaucer Sec. Nun's T. 144 O sweete and wel biloued spouse deere,..Ther is a conseil Which that right fayn I wolde vn-to yow seye. 1706–7 Farquhar Beaux' Strat. v. iv, They tell me Spouse that you had like to have been rob'd. Mrs. Sull. Truly, Spouse, I was pretty near it. 1821 Shelley Epipsych. 130 Spouse! Sister! Angel..O too soon adored, by me! |
2. A married man in relation to his wife; a husband; † a bridegroom. Usually with possessive pronouns.
| c 1200– [see 3]. 13.. Cursor M. 10170 (Gött.), To samirtale widuten strijf, Be-tuix any spouse and his wijf. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xviii. 5 As spouse cumand forth of his chawmbire. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 301 This wif..sih how that hire seli spouse Was sett. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 57 Thus she gan crye Welkecome dere spouse and god gramercy. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. (1811) 654 At whiche mariage was no persones present but the spowse, the spowsesse, the duches of Bedforde [etc.]. 1564–5 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 327 George Kennedie, hir pretendit spous. 1597 J. Payne Royal Exch. 43 So gloriouse and Princely a spowze to take..so poore and meane an espowzes. 1608 [see spoused ppl. a. b]. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 232 To fill the place of the deceased, not only as the son of the sachem, but as the spouse of a beautiful squaw. 1782 Cowper Mut. Forbearance 1 The lady thus address'd her spouse. 1844 Willis Lady Jane i. 82 Ours Are the best wives on earth. They love their spouses. 1856 Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh ii. 412, I am scarcely meek enough To be the handmaid of a lawful spouse. |
† b. An affianced suitor; one's fiancé. Obs.—1
| a 1553 Udall Royster D. i. v, I am bespoken: And I thought verily thys had bene some token From my dear spouse Gawin Goodluck. |
3. fig. In religious use: a. Applied to the Church, or to a woman who has taken religious vows, in relation to God or Christ.
| (a) c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 149 Swiche teares wiep þe holie spuse uppen hire spus. a 1225 Ancr. R. 2 Louerd! seið Godes Spuse to hire deorewurðe Spus [etc.]. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 339 Cristis Chirche is his Spouse. a 1536 Songs, Carols, etc. (1907) 69 The chirche is callid þe spowse of Jhesu Criste. 1570 B. Googe Pop. Kingd. iv. 51 b, How are the Idoles worshipped, if this religion here Be Catholike, and like the Spowse of Christ accounted dere? 1641 Wither Haleluiah i. l, Thy God, is now thy Father dear; His holy Spouse, thy Mother too. 1782 J. Fletcher Lett. Wks. 1795 VII. 239 The Church, the Spouse of the Son of God. 1827 Pollok Course T. v, The Church, the holy spouse of God. |
| (b) c 1230 Hali Meid. 5 Swuch wurðschipe, as hit is to beo godes spuse, Ihesu cristes brude. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 52 Go..to þe Abbesse of þe house, Dame Aldred þat clene Maide, þat is godes spouse. c 1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 19 Now myn owne doughter be glad..for now ȝe lak noo thyng þat longeth to an heuenly spouse. c 1440 Gesta Rom. v. 13 (Harl. MS.), Ony sowle, þe which is spouse of god. c 1610 Women Saints 83 Their no lesse religious sister Walburge, a moste chaste spouse of Christ. a 1700 in Cath. Rel. Soc. Publ. IX. 343 God..had perticularly designed her for his especiall Elected and Beloved spowse. 1756–9 A. Butler Lives of Saints, S. Catherine of Bologna, She looked upon it as the greatest honour to be in any thing the servant of the spouses of Christ. 1886 J. Monahan Rec. Ardagh & Clonmacnoise 2 That youthful spouse of Christ [St. Bridget]. |
b. Applied to God or Christ in relation to the Church (or its members) or to women of religion.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 149 Swiche teares wiep þe holie spuse uppen hire spus. c 1220 Bestiary 717 in O.E. Misc., He is ure soule spuse. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxiv. (Pelagia) 102 We, þat suld god plese maste, oure verray spouse. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 178 Perpetuelly..Knet to your spouse callid Crist Jhesu. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) G g b, Let the swete odour of deuocyon and prayer spyre out and ascende vp to thy lorde & spouse. 1657 Penit. Conf. vii. 117 That the Church would not have made so bold..without express warranty from her Spouse? 1753 Challoner Cath. Chr. Instr. 207 Because the Church is then in Mourning for her Spouse. |
† 4. The married state; marriage, wedlock. Obs.
| c 1250 Owl & Night. 1334 Þu..me atwist Þat ic singe bi manne huse & theche wyue breke spuse. a 1300 Cursor M. 3907 Quat of his wiues tuin in spus, And wat of hand wimmen in hus, Tuelue suns had he o þaa. Ibid. 11132 Als dos þe men þat liues in spus. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 393 Alle leccheries lust vs loþeth to founde, Or to bringe vs in brigge for to breke spouce. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as spouse-bed, spouse-faith, spouse-feast; spouse-lost adj.
| 1550 Coverdale Spir. Pride vii. (1588) 80 Those..matrones, which being sore tempted,..do neuerthelesse kepe their spouse faith toward their husbandes vndefiled. 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. vii, Let her, that..Dares spot the Spous-bed with unlawful kisses, Blush. 1598 Ibid. ii. i, Sith spousebed spotless laws of God allow. 1601 Downfall Earl Huntington ii. i. in Hazl. Dodsley VIII. 129 To this end came I to the mock spouse-feast. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 320 Like spouse-lost Turtles, do we flocke together. |
▪ II. spouse, v. Obs. exc. arch.
(spaʊz)
Forms: 3–4 spuse (4 spusen, spus); 3–4 spose; 3–4 spousi, spousy, 4–5 spousen (5 spowsyn), 4–6 spowse, 3– spouse (9 Sc. spouss).
[ad. OF. espuser, esposer, espouser: see espouse v. In some early examples the pa. tense and pple. are formed without -d.]
† 1. trans. To join or unite in marriage or wedlock. Chiefly employed in the passive, and usu. const. to, unto, or with (a person). Obs.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 110 So þat heo i-cristned was,..and i-spouse in þe place. a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 788 He let hem to one Chirche bringe, And spusen hem wiþ one gold ringe. c 1300 Havelok 1175 He weren spused fayre and wel, þe messe he deden eueridel. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 6566 After mete asked king Ban.. Whi Gvenour, his douhter precious, To sum gentil man nere yspouse. c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. 3 Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde were newe spoused. c 1460 Brut ccxxxix. 338 Yn þis same ȝere come Quene Anne yn-to Engelond, for to be spoused vnto King Richard. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (1495) i. xlviii. 93 b/2 He to whom I shold haue be spowsed and maryed wente his waye secretely. 1565 Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. 58 It was not lawfull for a Christian woman and virgin to be maried, or spoused to a paynime. 1595 Locrine i. i, Thou shalt be spoused to fair Guendolen. 1638 R. Brathwait Barnabees Jrnl. ii. (1818) 63 Her I sought, but she was spoused. |
| fig. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. xxv. 72 Jesu, mi soule is spoused to the. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 142 Clerkis seien þat whan a man is brouȝt þus to Goddis chambre, þan he is fully spousid with God, and dowid [etc.]. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. in Ashm. (1652) 186 Spowsyd wyth the Spryts of lyfe to lyve in love and rest. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 187 So the soule..begynneth to be spoused & coupled to God. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 89 The very hearts of her attendants..Were spous'd to this pure virgin euerywhere. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 216 They led the Vine To wed her Elm; she, spous'd, about him twines Her mariageable arms. |
2. To give in marriage; to promote or procure the marriage of; to marry (esp. a woman to a man).
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10839 Seint edmund þo at canterburi spousede to vr kinge Þe erles doȝter of prouence elianore to wiue. 1305 in E.P.P. (1862) 66 To spouse hire & his sone to-gadere he hadde iþoȝt. 1388 Wyclif 2 Cor. xi. 2 Y haue spousid ȝou to oon hosebonde. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 97 If that a man of hye or lowe degree Would spouse his daughter vnto a straunge man. 1565 Stapleton Fortr. Faith 85, I haue spoused you to one husband. |
| refl. 1340 Ayenb. 225 Þaȝ hit by zuo þet ha zeneȝi dyad⁓liche þet efter zuych ane beheste him spouseþ. c 1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 83 And I haue spoused me to hym. 1528 Roy Rede me (Arb.) 91 Their vowes, Wherby theym selves they spowse To god. |
† b. To betroth; = espouse v. 1. Obs.—1
| 1533 Bellenden Livy iii. xvi. (S.T.S.) II. 9 O appius, I haue spousit my dochter to Icelius and nocht to þe. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. x. 4 The eldest two,..Fidelia and Speranza, virgins were; Though spousd, yet wanting wedlocks solemnize. |
3. To take (a woman) as a wife; to marry, wed.
Freq. from c 1300 to c 1450; now arch.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 589 So þat king lotrin..spouse is doȝter. c 1300 Havelok 2875, I rede þat þu hire take, And spuse. c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. 386 This Markys hath hire spoused with a ryng. c 1450 Merlin xxv. 450 He was gon in to Carmelide for to spouse his wif. 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 24 King Lowes of Fraunce in his yong age..spoused the said Alienore. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. (1516) II. 129/2 In y⊇ moneth of Ianuary next ensuynge..kynge Philip spoused his seconde wyfe Blaunche. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. iii. 2 To Faerie land; Where he her spous'd, and made his ioyous bride. 1663 Butler Hud. i. ii. 283 He Spous'd in India, Of Noble House, a Lady gay. 1805 tr. Lafontaine's Hermann & Emilia II. 5, I will spouse Roslace; but Rolfs shall not possess Emilia. |
| fig. 1517 R. Torkington Pilgr. (1884) 12 They..Spoused the see with a ryng. |
b. fig. To devote oneself to, to try (one's fortune). Sc.
| 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xciii, Your old companion..they say has spoused his fortune and gone to Indy. 1870 Chambers Pop. Rhymes 90 It was time for the wife that had twa sons to send them away to spouss their fortune. |
† 4. absol. To take a spouse. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2336 Wit þe lau þat þai liued in Men suld not spuse bot in þer kin. Ibid. 10653 Þen did þe biscop command þar, Þat all þe maidens..Be send all to þair frendes dere, For to mari and forto spus. 1622 S. Ward Christ All in All (1627) 21 Spouse not but in the Lord. |