espousal
Taking something up
Espousal is the act of adopting or supporting a cause, belief, or way of life: her espousal of progressive causes, his espousal of nonviolence.
The word carries a sense of public commitment—you don't just agree with something, you champion it.
An older meaning refers to betrothal or marriage, now rare outside legal or historical contexts.
Legal union of spouses
- unionJoining into one
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- husbandMarried man's role
- wifeFemale marriage partner
partner · conjugal · nuptials · vows · monogamy · polygamy · consort · matrimonial
Commitment to wed or attend
- fiancéMan pledged to marry
- fiancéeEngaged woman
- betrothedEngaged to marry
- handfastingCeremonial binding of couples
dowry · troth · pledge · promise · proposal · affianced · nuptials · matchmaking
Vigorously supporting a cause
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- endorsementFormal expression of support
- backingAid or sponsorship
defense · adoption · advancement · furthering · activism · campaigning · lobbying · proponent
Wholehearted loyalty to purpose
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
adherence · embrace · adoption · attachment · constancy · steadfastness · faithfulness · covenant
matrimony
Legal union of spouses
wife · partner · conjugal · nuptials · vows · monogamy · polygamy · consort · matrimonial · wedlock
engagement
Commitment to wed or attend
handfasting · dowry · troth · pledge · promise · proposal · affianced · nuptials · matchmaking · courtship
championing
Vigorously supporting a cause
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- endorsementFormal expression of support
backing · defense · adoption · advancement · furthering · activism · campaigning · lobbying · proponent · pleading
dedication
Wholehearted loyalty to purpose
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
fidelity · adherence · embrace · adoption · attachment · constancy · steadfastness · faithfulness · covenant · oath
- weddingwedding, wedding ring, marry, wedding ceremony, wedding rings
- wedding vowsI do, I will, to have and to hold, till death do us part, forever
espousalrejection
Denial of acceptance
repudiation · renunciation · disavowal · abandonment · denouncement
espousaldivorce
Legal end of matrimony
annulment · separation · dissolution · breakup · estrangement