A Spouse Is Someone Who Promised
A spouse is a husband or wife. The Latin root means to promise, and it also gives English sponsor, respond and despondent.
A spouse is a married partner, and the word is useful because it does not specify gender. Its root is Latin *spondere*, to promise solemnly — a spouse is literally one who has pledged. The same verb produced *sponsor*, someone who promises on another's behalf, *respond*, to promise back, and *despondent*, having given up promise altogether.
- A married partner. *My spouse works nights.*
- Spousal — the adjective. *Spousal benefits.*
- Espouse — to adopt a cause, from the same root. *He espoused the idea.*
- Spouses — the plural. *Spouses were invited.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | spouse | A supportive spouse. |
| Plural | spouses | Both spouses. |
| Adjective | spousal | Spousal visa. |
| Verb | espouse | Espouse a view. |
| Related | sponsor | A race sponsor. |
- The form asks for your spouse's name.Official language.
- Spousal support was agreed in advance.Legal.
- She espoused the cause long before it was popular.The related verb.
The spondere family
- Sponsor — one who promises for another
- Respond — to promise in return, then simply to answer
- Despondent — without promise, and so without hope
- Spontaneous — unrelated, despite the resemblance
- Espouse — originally to marry, now to adopt a belief
Old French *spous*, from Latin *sponsus*, betrothed, from *spondere*, to pledge. English has used it since the 1200s.
Is spouse a formal word?
It is neutral rather than formal, and common in official contexts because it covers husband, wife and partner without specifying.
How is espouse related?
It comes from the same root and once meant to marry. Now it means to take up a cause or belief.