Espouse \Es*pouse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espoused}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Espousing}.] [OF. espouser, esposer, F. ['e]pouser,
L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p.
of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. {Spouse}.]
1. To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.

A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph.
--Luke i. 27.

2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.

Lavinia will I make my empress, . . .
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse. --Shak.

3. To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make
one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace.
``He espoused that quarrel.'' --Bacon.

Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as
he got out of the war. --Bp. Burnet.