betroth

3 definitions found

betroth - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Betroth \Be*troth"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrothed; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Betrothing.] [Pref. be- + troth, i. e., truth. See
     Truth.]
     1. To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or
        promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of
        a woman.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He, in the first flower of my freshest age,
              Betrothed me unto the only heir.      --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Ay, and we are betrothed.             --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's
        troth to.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and
              hath not taken her?                   --Deut. xx. 7.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration.
        --Ayliffe.
        [1913 Webster]

betroth - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  betroth
      v 1: give to in marriage [syn: betroth, engage, affiance,
           plight]

betroth - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Betroth
  to promise "by one's truth." Men and women were betrothed when
  they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year
  or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman
  was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was
  betrothed (Deut. 28:30; Judg. 14:2, 8; Matt. 1:18-21). The term
  is figuratively employed of the spiritual connection between God
  and his people (Hos. 2:19, 20).