spouse

Where does the word "spouse" come from? It comes from Latin spondere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Spouse’s story begins in Latin: spondere meant “to promise, to pledge.” The root of 'sponsor' and 'respond'. Within Latin, it grew into sponsus by ancient. Betrothed, promised in marriage, from spondere. From there it passed into Old French as espous by medieval. Carried into French for a married partner. It reached English by 1200s as spouse. Settled as the English word for a married partner. Today, spouse means a married partner, either a husband or wife.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient spondere "to promise, to pledge", the root of 'sponsor' and 'respond'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient sponsus "betrothed, promised in marriage", betrothed, promised in marriage, from spondere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval espous "a married partner", carried into French for a married partner.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s spouse "a married partner, either husband or wife", settled as the English word for a married partner.