spouse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person's partner in marriage
    partner; married person; mate; better half.

WordNet

Spouse noun
Etymology
OF. espous, espos, fem. espouse, F. époux, épouse, fr. L. sponsus, sponsa, prop. p.p. of spondere, sponsum, to promise solemnly, to engage one's self. Cf. Despond, Espouse, respond, Sponsor.
Definitions
  1. A man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; a married person, husband or wife.
    At last such grace I found, and means I wrought, That that lady to my spouse had won. Spenser.
  2. A married man, in distinct from a spousess or married woman; a bridegroom or husband. Obs.
    At which marriage was [were] no person present but the spouse, the spousess, the Duchess of Bedford her mother, the priest, two gentlewomen, and a young man. Fabyan.
Spouse transitive verb
Etymology
See Espouse, and Spouse, n.
Definitions
  1. To wed; to espouse. Obs.
    This markis hath her spoused with a ring. Chaucer.
    Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize. Spenser.
    She was found again, and spoused to Marinell. Spenser.

Webster 1913