betroth

[ bih-trohth, -trawth ]

See synonyms for: betroth betrothed betrothing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to arrange for the marriage of; affiance (usually used in passive constructions): The couple was betrothed with the approval of both families.
Archaic. to promise to marry.

Origin of betroth

1275–1325; Middle English betrouthe, variant of betreuthe (be-be- + treuthetruth; see troth)

Other words for betroth

1	engage, promise, pledge, plight

See synonyms for betroth on Thesaurus.com

Words Nearby betroth

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use betroth in a sentence

Despite the fiancé leaving Spain to join his aging parents on their sizeable farm in Tucumán, Argentina, the young lovers remain betrothed.
‘Doña Rosita’ marks reunion of three Spaniards at GALA | Patrick Folliard | September 25, 2021 | Washington Blade
Soulemain, one of the construction workers, is in an illicit relationship with Ada, who is betrothed to another, wealthier match.
The Best International Movies on Netflix | Chris Grasinger | June 11, 2021 | Time
The pair were Lucy Schwob and Suzanne Malherbe, wealthy, avant-garde artists from France and romantically betrothed since their teenage years.
A lesbian couple who scattered ‘butterflies’ to undermine the Nazis | Karen Tucker | December 4, 2020 | Washington Post
But before permitting you to go I wish, not having been able to wed you myself, to betroth you to the one you have chosen.
Honey-Bee | Anatole France
It has pleased me to betroth Brighteyes to Gudruda, and it pleased me not to betroth her to Ospakar, and that is enough for thee.
Eric Brighteyes | H. Rider Haggard

She flew off to betroth herself; but Mr. Crane would have none of her, and she flew back again.
Old Peter's Russian Tales | Arthur Ransome
This will anger him greatly, for he wishes to betroth me to the son of the king of the Green City, whom I like not at all.'
The Lilac Fairy Book | Andrew Lang
betroth your young princess to Montagu's son, the representative of all the Neviles.
The Last Of The Barons, Complete | Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for betroth

betroth

/ (bɪˈtrəʊð) /

verb

(tr) archaic to promise to marry or to give in marriage

Origin of betroth

C14 betreuthen, from be- + treuthe troth, truth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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