English
espousal
Espousal comes from Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia ‘a betrothal’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spend- ‘to perform a rite, make an offering’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*spend-‘to perform a rite, make an offering’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spondéyetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spondejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*spondeō‘to promise, pledge’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspondeō‘to vow, pledge’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspōnsus‘one betrothed, a spouse’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsponsalia‘a betrothal’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espousailles
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500espousal
- Englishearliest quotation 1949same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*spend-‘to perform a rite, make an offering’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spondéyetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spondejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*spondeō‘to promise, pledge’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspondeō‘to vow, pledge’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspōnsus‘one betrothed, a spouse’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsponsalia‘a betrothal’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espousailles
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500espousal
- Englishearliest quotation 1949same form
Earliest quotation: 1949, Joseph Campbell: “So he pressed her again and again with advice…”
Equivalent to espouse + -al
Proto-Indo-European *spend- ‘to libate’
Latin spōnsāre
Old French espouser ‘to marry’
Middle English espousen
English espouse
Linked words
through Proto-Italic *spondeō ‘to promise, pledge’
through Latin spondeō ‘to vow, pledge’
response, responsible, respond, sponsor, despondent, 7 more
through Latin spōnsus ‘one betrothed, a spouse’
Today it means
noun A betrothal.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *spend- / espousal