Part 682

Boweth your head under that blissful yoke . . . Which that men clepeth spousal or wedlock.

Chaucer.

the spousals of the newborn year.

Emerson.

Spouse (?), n. [OF. espous, espos, fem. espouse, F. époux, épouse, 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.

At last such grace I found, and means I wrought, That that lady to my spouse had won.

Spenser.

2. A married man, in distinct from a spousess or married woman; a bridegroom or husband. [Obs.]

At which marriage was no person present but the spouse, the spousess, the Duchess of Bedford her mother, the priest, two gentlewomen, and a young man.

Fabyan.

Spouse (?), v. t. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.] To wed; to espouse. [Obs.]

This markis hath her spoused with a ring.

Chaucer.

Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize.

Spenser.

She was found again, and spoused to Marinell.

Spenser.

Spouse"-breach` (?), n. Adultery. [Obs.]

Spouse"less, a. Destitute of a spouse; unmarried.

Spous"ess, n. A wife or bride. [Obs.] Fabyan.

Spout (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spouting.] [Cf. Sw. sputa, spruta, to spout, D. spuit a spout, spuiten to spout, and E. spurt, sprit, v., sprout, sputter; or perhaps akin to E. spit to eject from the mouth.] 1. To throw out forcibly and abudantly, as liquids through an office or a pipe; to eject in a jet; as, an elephant spouts water from his trunk.

Who kept Jonas in the fish's maw Till he was spouted up at Ninivee?

Chaucer.

Next on his belly floats the mighty whale . . . He spouts the tide.

Creech.

2. To utter magniloquently; to recite in an oratorical or pompous manner.

Pray, spout some French, son.

Beau. & Fl.