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Wordnet 3.0

VERB (1)

1. give to in marriage;
[syn: betroth, engage, affiance, plight]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Betroth \Be*troth"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrothed; p. pr. & vb. n. Betrothing.] [Pref. be- + troth, i. e., truth. See Truth.] 1. To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of a woman. [1913 Webster] He, in the first flower of my freshest age, Betrothed me unto the only heir. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] Ay, and we are betrothed. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's troth to. [1913 Webster] What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? --Deut. xx. 7. [1913 Webster] 3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration. --Ayliffe. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

betroth v 1: give to in marriage [syn: betroth, engage, affiance, plight]
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Betroth to promise "by one's truth." Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed (Deut. 28:30; Judg. 14:2, 8; Matt. 1:18-21). The term is figuratively employed of the spiritual connection between God and his people (Hos. 2:19, 20).