Betrothment
Defined in 4 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
or BETROTHAL. A contract between a man and a woman that at a future time they will intermarry.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Mutual promise of marriage; the plighting of troth; a mutual promise or contract between a man and woman competent to make it, to marry at a future time.
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
[L. Lat. desponsatio.] A mutual promise, or compact between two parties, by which they bind themselves to marry. The word imports giving one's troth, i. e. true faith, or promise. It is the same with what is called by civilians and canonists, sponsalia, or espousals, and sometimes desponsatio, and by the French fiancailles. Encyclop. Amer. See Sponsalia.