to betroth
5
9.6
- verb
- /bɪˈtroʊθ/
- Archaic
- The prince had recently become betrothed to a suitable princess, well-dowered, sufficiently pretty, and moderately clever.
Examples
-
She's betrothed to a knight of the Round Table.
-
When we met at Constantinople, I was already betrothed to a girl in my village.
-
Had she seen her betrothed at the end after all?
Fiction book (1995) -
We were betrothed, but I was always putting off our wedding day.
Fiction book (1995) -
Well, one day the two of you will be betrothed.
-
You, me, and Max whom, I will remind you... you are betrothed to.
-
And in fear for her, he betrothed her to another and ordered her to marry without delay.
Fiction book (2000) -
My Lord, have you quite forgotten that we are betrothed?
-
Rubens's oldest son was now twenty and betrothed to a daughter of the solid burgertum.
Academic text (1999) -
Many young couples dream of being betrothed in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.
Synonyms
18
5.1
To arrange for someone, often by their family, to have a husband or wife
1
9.9
To arrange someone's marriage
1
9.9
To formally promise that two people will marry
1
9.9
To promise to marry in a simple old ceremony
To join hands in a traditional ceremony to promise to marry each other
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word betroth comes from the old parts be- and troth, where troth means 'faith' or 'promise' and is like the modern word truth. So to betroth someone is to formally 'promise' them in marriage.