spouse
    n 1: a person's partner in marriage [syn: spouse, partner,
         married person, mate, better half]

Spouse \Spouse\ (spouz), v. t. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.]
   To wed; to espouse. [Obs.]
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         This markis hath her spoused with a ring. --Chaucer.
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         Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize.
                                                  --Spenser.
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         She was found again, and spoused to Marinell.
                                                  --Spenser.
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Spouse \Spouse\ (spouz), n. [OF. espous, espos, fem. espouse, F.
   ['e]poux, ['e]pouse, fr. L. sponsus, sponsa, prop. p. p. of
   spondere, sponsum, to promise solemnly, to engage one's self.
   Cf. Despond, Espouse, Respond, Sponsor.]
   1. A man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; a married
      person, husband or wife.
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            At last such grace I found, and means I wrought,
            That I that lady to my spouse had won. --Spenser.
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   2. A married man, in distinction from a spousess or
      married woman; a bridegroom or husband. [Obs.]
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            At which marriage was [were] no persons present but
            the spouse, the spousess, the Duchess of Bedford her
            mother, the priest, two gentlewomen, and a young
            man.                                  --Fabyan.
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Spouse
   (Cant. 4:8-12; Hos. 4:13, 14) may denote either husband or wife,
   but in the Scriptures it denotes only the latter.