E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Spouse (Spouze, 1 syl.)
means one whom sponsors have answered for. In Rome, before marriage, the friends of the parties about to be married met at the house of the woman’s father to settle the marriage contract. This contract was called sponsa’lia (espousals); the man and woman were spouses. The contracting parties were each asked, “An spondes” (Do you agree?), and replied “Spondeo” (I agree).
1
Spouse of Jesus. “Our seraphic mother, the holy Tere’sa,” born at Av’ila in 1515, is so called in the Roman Catholic Church.
