Spouse
/spaʊs/noun
A husband or wife; a married partner.
Did you know?Spouse ultimately traces back to Latin spondere, “to promise solemnly,” the same sacred-root idea behind legal pledges and binding vows.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spend-
“to make an offering, perform a rite, or pledge”
Latin
Latin
spondēre
“to promise solemnly, pledge, or betroth”
Late Latin
Late Latin
sponsus / sponsa
“betrothed man / betrothed woman”
Old French
Old French
espous / espouse
“husband / wife; married partner”
Middle English
English
spouse
“a married partner”
Explore more surprising origins