spouse

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*spend-
2. Latin · derived fromspōnsus m“bridegroom”
3. Old French · derived fromespos m
4. Anglo-Norman · derived fromespus m
5. Middle English · inherited fromspous
6. English todayspouse

From Middle English spous, spouse, from Anglo-Norman espus m, espuse f and Old French espos m, espose f and by aphesis from Latin spōnsus m (“bridegroom”), spōnsa f (“bride”), from spondeō (“to vow, pledge”), from Proto-Indo-European *spend-. Displaced native Old English ġemaca. Related to espouse and sponsor.

Words from the same roots