spouse

[noun spous, spouz; verb spouz, spous]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spouse ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

either member of a married pair in relation to the other; one's husband or wife.

verb (used with object), spoused, spous·ing.

Obsolete. to join, give, or take in marriage.

Origin of spouse

1150–1200; (noun) Middle English < Old French spous (masculine), spouse (feminine) (aphetic for espous, espouse) < Latin spōnsus, spōnsa literally, pledged (man, woman) (noun uses of past participle of spondēre to pledge), equivalent to spond- verb stem + -tus, -ta past participle suffix; (v.) Middle English spousen < Old French esp(o)user; cf. espouse

Related formsspouse·hood, nounspouse·less, adjectiveun·spoused, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for spouse

woman, wife, companion, bride, roommate, mate, partner, husband, man, helpmate, groom

Examples from the Web for spouse

Contemporary Examples of spouse

Otherwise, he decides whether or not to perform a wedding based on how comfortable he feels with the spouse on the outside.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars
Caitlin Dickson
December 8, 2014
Well, that is very beneficial to the spouse who has a new job in LA, but detrimental to the one who left a job in New York.
Is Alimony Anti-Feminist?
Keli Goff
August 25, 2014
One can only imagine the reaction had a GOP operative made the exact same slur against the spouse of a Democratic candidate.
In Kentucky, Elaine Chao Endures Racist Attacks From Liberals
Ron Christie
August 5, 2014
My present—and it is to be hoped permanent—wife is not off pursing a spouse more to her liking.
What Did TJ Mean By “Pursuit of Happiness,” Anyway?
P. J. O’Rourke
June 8, 2014
Less surprising perhaps that the death of a spouse or close family member also rank so highly.
Psychologists View Both Divorce and Marriage as Major Life Stresses
Emma Woolf
May 12, 2014

Historical Examples of spouse

Her voice was pleasant as she asked: "Martin, did you hear your spouse just now?"
Dust
Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
I am told he even built a mansion for her while the spouse was in London on business.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
The spouse of the Yellow Lord is mentioned in the same connection.
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
Her duty accomplished, she was now returning to him, for she was spouse as well as mother.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola
"And of course he said nothing of the kind," retorted his spouse.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. I (of II)
Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for spouse

spouse

noun (spaʊs, spaʊz)

a person's partner in marriageRelated adjective: spousal

verb (spaʊz, spaʊs)

(tr) obsolete to marry

Word Origin for spouse

C12: from Old French spus (masculine), spuse (feminine), from Latin sponsus, sponsa betrothed man or woman, from spondēre to promise solemnly

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 spouse

c.1200, "a married woman in relation to her husband" (also of men), from Old French spus (fem. spuse), from Latin sponsus "bridegroom" (fem. sponsa "bride"), from masc. and fem. past participle of spondere "to bind oneself, promise solemnly," from PIE *spend- "to make an offering, perform a rite" (see spondee). Spouse-breach (early 13c.) was an old name for "adultery."