ESPOUSALS
Noun
espousals
plural of espousal
Source: Wiktionary
ESPOUSAL
Es*pous"al, n. Etym: [OF. espousailles, pl., F. épousailles, L.
sponsalia, fr. sponsalis belonging to betrothal or espousal. See
Espouse, and cf. Sponsal, Spousal.]
1. The act of espousing or betrothing; especially, in the plural,
betrothal; plighting of the troths; a contract of marriage;
sometimes, the marriage ceremony.
2. The uniting or allying one's self with anything; maintenance;
adoption; as, the espousal of a quarrel.
The open espousal of his cause. Lord Orford.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition