espousal

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   formal: the act of adopting, supporting, or becoming committed to a belief, cause, policy, or practice

   Her early espousal of prison reform made the issue central to the campaign.

2. 2
   noun

   literary or archaic: a betrothal, marriage, or wedding ceremony, especially in the plural espousals

   The families announced the espousal after agreeing to the terms of the marriage.

From Middle English espousal and Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia ("betrothal"), based on sponsus ("betrothed person, spouse") and spondere ("promise solemnly"). The modern advocacy sense arose through espouse: adopting a cause as though taking it in marriage.

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