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betrothal

or be·troth·ment

[bih-troh-th uh l, -traw-thuh l]
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noun
  1. the act or state of being betrothed; engagement.
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Origin of betrothal

First recorded in 1835–45; betroth + -al2
Related formspre·be·troth·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

engagement, vow, promise, espousal, plight, troth

Examples from the Web for betrothal

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Nelly, next week it will be a year since our first betrothal; do you remember?

  • The betrothal was completed before Frederick stood so near to the throne.

    The Avenger

    E. Phillips Oppenheim

  • Sometimes the illusion disappears while there is yet time to break off the betrothal.

  • Also he intended to announce the betrothal of the young couple.

    A Nest of Spies

    Pierre Souvestre

  • The betrothal of the parties shall be made by the next of kin, or if there are none, by the guardians.

    Laws

    Plato

British Dictionary definitions for betrothal

betrothal

noun
  1. engagement to be married
  2. a mutual promise to marry
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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

Word Origin and History for betrothal

n.

1844, from betroth + -al (2). Earlier in same sense were betrothment (1580s), betrothing (14c.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper