espouse
pronunciation
How to pronounce espouse in British English:
UK [ɪˈspaʊz]
How to pronounce espouse in American English:
US [ɪˈspaʊz]
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- Verb:
- choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
- take in marriage
- take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
Word Origin
- espouse
- espouse: [15] Etymologically, to espouse something is the same as to sponsor it. Both words go back ultimately to Latin spondēre ‘promise solemnly’. From it developed late Latin spōnsāre, which produced Old French espouser, source of the English verb. It originally meant ‘promise to marry’, but this particular semantic strand has survived only in the related noun spouse, and by the 17th century the now familiar metaphorical sense ‘adopt and support a cause’ had developed.=> sponsor, spouse
- espouse (v.)
- mid-15c., "to take as spouse, marry," from Old French espouser "marry, take in marriage, join in marriage" (11c., Modern French épouser), from Latin sponsare, past participle of spondere "make an offering, perform a rite, promise secretly," hence "to engage oneself by ritual act" (see spondee). Extended sense of "adopt, embrace" a cause, party, etc., is from 1620s. Related: Espoused; espouses; espousing. For initial e-, see e-.
Example
- 1. On one hand we espouse free markets and the premium of economic choice .
- 2. It stands as a challenge to other nations to live by the principles they espouse .
- 3. I 've sometimes heard people espouse a philosophy of ignorance when their bosses are asking for something to be done .
- 4. Like everything else about these lobbyists , the true , unacceptable meaning of the freedom they espouse is hidden behind an acceptable front .
- 5. On one hand we espouse free markets and the premium of economic choice . So why is it that we can 't stand to have the tables turned when it comes to china 's economic freedom ?