spousal

English

Pronunciation

• (UK, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈspaʊzəl/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈspaʊzəl/, /ˈspaʊsəl/

Etymology 1

From spouse +‎ -al.

Adjective

spousal (comparative more spousal, superlative most spousal)

1. of or relating to marriage
2. of or relating to a spouse, spouses; to the relationship between spouses
   • c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

     […] There ſhall wee conſummate our ſpousall rites.

Derived terms

• spousal abuse
• spousal support

Translations

of or relating to marriage

• Esperanto: geedza
• Polish: małżeński (pl)
• Volapük: matik (vo)

of or relating to a spouse, spouses

• Esperanto: geedza
• Ido: spozala (io)
• Volapük: (♂♀) matanik, (♂) himatanik, (♀) jimatanik

Etymology 2

From Middle English spousaille, from Old French esposaille, espousaille, espousalle, Anglo-Norman (e)spusaille, esposalie, sposale, spousaille.

Noun

spousal (plural spousals)

1. (obsolete, chiefly in the plural) Espousal; marriage; nuptials.
   • 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, book I, page 2:

     The Spouſals of Hippolita the Queen;

   • 1867, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “May-Day”, in May-Day and Other Pieces, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 17:

     Knowing well to celebrate / With song and hue and star and state, / With tender light and youthful cheer, / The spousals of the new-born year.

References

• “spousal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.