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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Spous(e, v. Also: spows(e. [ME and e.m.E. spouse (1297), spuse (c1300), OF espouser; Spous(e n.] tr. and intr.

1. Only in p.p.: To be spousit, to be or get married, to be joined in wedlock (to, with another). a1400 Leg. S. xi 6.
The sownis of Marie, that spousit wes to Cleophe 1503 Treas. Acc. II 385.
The viij day of August, the King wes spousit 1513 Doug. iii v 93.
Than send he me his seruand hiddir thus Tobe spowsit with his seruand Helenus 1539 Reg. Cupar A. II 10.
In cace it happin the said Elene heirefter to be cled or spousit with ony man 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7144.
Madame … sit … in tabill with the king, Euin as ȝe war my wife spousit with ane ring a1578 Pitsc. I 191/8.
Quhen he and the said Elizabeth was spousit togeddar thay wald ceis the lang debeit that has beine for the crowne of Ingland 1578 St. A. Kirk S. 428.
He nevir knew to this howre that Jonet Johnesoun, quhom witht he had carnal deal was spowsit or wedded witht ony person

2. tr. To give in marriage to (with, on, apoun another). c1420 Wynt. vi 1294.
‘This lettyr sene, my dochtyre dere, Sone, thow spows wyth the berere’. … That lettyr scho gert till hyre rede And efftyr that … Scho gave To that child hyr dochtyr … Til hys wyff 1486 Lennox Mun. 127 (see Spousage n. 1). 1533 Boece 401.
His dochter (quham he had spousit apoun Cithirik) 1533 Bell. Livy II 9/2.
O Appius, I haue spousit [L. despondi] my dochter to Icelius, and nocht to thé

3. To take as a husband or wife; to marry. a1400 Leg. S. xliv 67.
Thar-for be hire I coniure thé … to spouse me thu nemmyne nocht ?1438 Alex. ii 6.
Dedifeir the fair citie … quhair … Daurus did his wife to spouse 1400 Douglas Corr. 59.
I am gretly wrangit be the Duc of Rothesay, the quhilk spousit my douchter, and now, … agaynes the law of halikirc, spouses ane other wif 1416 Maxwell Mem. 148.
Spowse 1422 Fam. Rose 124.
It is in fresch memore with you … that … ye ar oblisit to spous a douchtir of ouris 1482–3 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 34.
Wilyeame … sal mary, spous, and have to wif Elizabetht a1500 Colk. Sow iii 116.
Cok Nolus the nynt spowsit his sister Erok 1498 Fam. Rose 167.
That the said James … sall spovs and haiff to wyff Alyn, douchter to the said Huchon 1513 Doug. iv x 27.
Or sal I lawly sum lord Numydane Pray and beseik of mariage … Quhom I sa oft lychtlyit to spows or this? 1549 Compl. 24/15.
Thou sal spouse ane vyfe, bot ane vthir sal tak hyr fra thé be forse

4. In various fig. applications of the above senses: a. To be joined as if by marriage (chiefly, to or with God or Christ); to be ‘wedded’ to (with) (a way of life). b. To spouse, unite oneself with, as if by marrying. c. To bestow, as in marriage.a. (1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 150/19.
Et erunt duo in carne vna. That is blist Jhesus and his modere, thai ware baithe spousit in a nature virginale. And for this gret concord vnioune and coniunctioune betuix this virgin and the sapiens devin [etc.](2) a1400 Leg. S. x 381.
Throw a wou & halowit vaile alsa, Is spousit to the kinge of hewyn a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 451 (Asl.).
My saull … With Crist our king spousit with ryng of treuth 1533 Gau 56/14.
Christ quhilk is the kirkis spousz with quhome it is spousit be faith(3) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 794.
The prelatis spowsit wer with pouertieb. 1490 Irland Mir. III 10/26.
This haly sacrament of bapteme suld be richt gretlie honorit for be the gret wertu of it the hie and mychty prince … has spousit the saule of man and woman a1538 Abell 91a.
For he may nocht pay his det to tua in a tyme sa he ma nocht minister to tua benifice in a tyme quhilkis he spousis with a ring quhen he takis collationc. c1515 Asl. MS I 322/11.
Crist … spousit his kirk on ws gentillis be vsing his faith

5. absol. or intr. To marry, get married. c1460 Consail Vys Man 247.
Spous nocht … Bot thow wyt weil quhar, quhy & how

6. tr. To espouse, take up (a cause). 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 77/9.
They … were euer carefull … to spouse that quarrell as their owne