Library / English Dictionary

BETROTH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give to in marriage

Synonyms:

affiance; betroth; engage; plight

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "betroth" is one way to...):

vow (make a vow; promise)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Derivation:

betrothal (the act of becoming betrothed or engaged)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He mused over the incident after she had gone, and once or twice broke out into laughter that was bitter as he saw his sister and her betrothed, all the members of his own class and the members of Ruth's class, directing their narrow little lives by narrow little formulas—herd-creatures, flocking together and patterning their lives by one another's opinions, failing of being individuals and of really living life because of the childlike formulas by which they were enslaved.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Thereupon she took her leave of her father, and rode away with them, and rode to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

But the girl did not care for the man as a girl ought to care for her betrothed husband.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Not long after a suitor appeared, and as he appeared to be very rich and the miller could see nothing in him with which to find fault, he betrothed his daughter to him.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Her betrothed only replied, “You must come and see me next Sunday; I have already invited guests for that day, and that you may not mistake the way, I will strew ashes along the path.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

When she grew up, she was betrothed to a prince who lived a great way off; and as the time drew near for her to be married, she got ready to set off on her journey to his country.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I asked her if my betrothed lived here, and she answered, Ah, you poor child, you are come to a murderers’ den; your betrothed does indeed live here, but he will kill you without mercy and afterwards cook and eat you.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Now when the full year was come round, the third brother left the forest in which he had lain hid for fear of his father’s anger, and set out in search of his betrothed bride.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)