espouse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
    follow; adopt.
    • She followed the feminist movement
    • The candidate espouses Republican ideals
  2. verb take in marriage
    get hitched with; wed; marry; conjoin; get married; hook up with.
  3. verb take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
    sweep up; adopt; embrace.
    • She embraced Catholicism
    • They adopted the Jewish faith

WordNet

Es*pouse" transitive verb
Etymology
OF. espouser, esposer, F. épouser, L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. Spouse.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Espoused ; present participle & verbal noun Espousing
Definitions
  1. To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.
    A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. Luke i. 27.
  2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.
    Lavinia will I make my empress, . . . And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse. Shak.
  3. To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace. "He espoused that quarrel." Bacon.
    Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the war. Bp. Burnet.

Webster 1913