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to betroth

to betroth

11 9.6
To promise two people will marry each other in the future
  • verb
  • /bɪˈtroʊθ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : desposar
  • 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

to engage
vsto betroth
  • Archaic
252 9.9

To arrange someone's marriage

is the modern neutral term without archaic tone
to marry off
vsto betroth
14 5.1

To arrange for someone, often by their family, to have a husband or wife

emphasizes a formal promise or arranged union rather than simply causing someone to wed
to affiance
vsto betroth
  • Archaic
9.9

To formally promise that two people will marry

has identical meaning and no usage difference
to handfast
vsto betroth
  • Archaic
9.9

To promise to marry in a simple old ceremony

is used to arrange or give someone in marriage rather than a personal pledge
to handfasting
vsto betroth
  • Archaic
9.9

To join hands in a traditional ceremony to promise to marry each other

is the formal arrangement or giving someone in marriage rather than a ritual pledge

How Formal

to engage
  • Archaic
252 9.9
to betroth
  • Archaic
11 9.6
promise
1.0
to get hitched with
  • Informal
7.3

Surface Forms

betroth infinitive
betrothing present participle
betroths third person singular
betrothed past
betrothed past participle

Morphology

betroth = troth (semi-transparent) = be + troth

Formed by productive prefix 'be-' + archaic noun 'troth'; the structure is regular but 'troth' is rare, so learners may not infer meaning easily.

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.