— spousehood , n. — spouseless , adj.
n. /spows, spowz/ ; v. /spowz, spows/ , n. , v. , spoused, spousing .
n.
1. either member of a married pair in relation to the other; one's husband or wife.
v.t.
2. Obs. to join, give, or take in marriage.
[ 1150-1200; (n.) ME spous (masc.), spouse (fem.) (aph. for espous, espouse ) sponsus, sponsa lit., pledged (man, woman) (n. uses of ptp. of spondere to pledge), equiv. to spond- verb s. + -tus, -ta ptp. suffix; (v.) ME spousen esp ( o ) user; cf. ESPOUSE ]