Espouse
Espouse , transitive verb
[Old French espouser, esposer, French épouser, Latin sponsare to betroth, espouse, from sponsus betrothed, past participle of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Compare Spouse.]
1.
To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.
A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph.
2.
To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.
Lavinia will I make my empress,...
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.
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.
Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war.