English Explanatory Dictionary

spouse

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person in a marriage or marital relationship.
verb
  1. To wed; to espouse.

Pronunciation

/spaʊ̯s/ /spaʊ̯z/ en-us-spouse.ogg

Word forms

spouse spouses spousing spoused

Etymology

From Middle English spous, spouse, from Anglo-Norman espus m, espuse f and Old French espos m, espose f and by aphesis from Latin spōnsus m (“bridegroom”), spōnsa f (“bride”), from spondeō (“to vow, pledge”), from Proto-Indo-European *spend-. Displaced native Old English ġemaca. Related to espouse and sponsor.

Synonyms

spouse better half consort helpmate helpmeet mate other half partner wedder

Related words

mistress

Derived words

bespouse ex-spouse godspouse housespouse military spouse pretermitted spouse spousal spousebreach spousedom spousehood spouseless spousely spousess spouseware surviving spouse work spouse
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