espousal

The story

1. Latin · derived fromsponsalia“a betrothal”
2. Old French · derived fromespousailles
3. Middle English · inherited fromespousal
4. English todayespousal

From Middle English espousal, espousaille, from Old French espousailles, from Latin sponsalia (“a betrothal”), neuter plural of sponsalis, from spōnsus (“one betrothed, a spouse”); see spouse. By surface analysis, espouse + -al.