Middle English Dictionary Entry
espǒusaille, -ā̆l, -ē̆l n.
Entry Info
| Forms | espǒusaille, -ā̆l, -ē̆l n. Also esposel. |
| Etymology | OF espousailles. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. spousaille.
1.
(a) The act or ceremony of betrothal or marriage;-- sg. or pl.; (b) fig. the joining (of the divine and the human).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1498 : What Maiden hire esposaile Wol tarie, whan sche take mai, Sche schal..Be let.
- (1430) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.94 : After the espouselles solempnized by twene the seid Erle and Alice.
- (1447) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.40 : The dey of the makyng of the esposels of the sayd Thomas and Elizabeth.
- (1449) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.45 : Be-for the espousel betwix hem.
- ?c1450 Trivet Constance (Harv Eng.938)228 : The festes of the nobull Espousalys and weddinges.
- (1456) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10141 : Your seyd suppliant shuld take to wyfe the seyd Amy, and immediatly after th'espouselx bytwene theym halowed.
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)655 : His is no right þat a man..Afore espousailes in no wyse with his wyf to lye.
b
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)147/9 : She was the chaumbre..where as was made the espoisall and the alyaunce, and knyttynge of the godhede vnto the manhode.
2.
Wedlock;--sg. or pl.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5815 : He..hadde his espousaile broke.
- (1430-1) RParl.4.375b : Alianore..begetyn and born in espousels.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)18 : [He] King should haue been..Of all Europe..and to his espousaile The dukes doughter of Melayn.