Betroth
/bɪˈtroʊθ/noun
To promise to marry someone; to engage or affiance.
Did you know?The word comes from the same ancient truth-root behind words like truth and troth, so a betrothal was originally a sacred promise, not just a legal arrangement.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
be- + trēowþ
“to make firm by a pledge of faithfulness”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*treuwiþō
“faith, loyalty, truth”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deru-
“to be firm, solid, steadfast”
Middle English
ME
betrothen
“to pledge in marriage; affiance”
Modern English
English
betroth
“to promise marriage to someone”