Middle English Dictionary Entry
sponsaile n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sponsaile n. |
| Etymology | Prob. from L sponsālia, AL sponsāle, & cp. F (16th cent.) sponsailles betrothal; ?error for ME spǒusaille n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Marriage, wedlock; also, theol. the union between Christ and the church.
Associated quotations
- c1430 Chaucer CT.Cl.(Cmb Gg.4.27)E.115 : Bowith ȝoure nekke vndyr þe blysful ȝok Of souereynte..Which þat men clepe sponsayle [Heng: spousaille] or wedlok.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.1008 : The fader sent his sonne..Dovn to the erthe to make an vnyte..Eternally by bonde that may not fayle, Fully assuryng by weddyng and sponsayle, Be-twene his sonne..And holy chirche perpetually to laste.