Espousals
Defined in 7 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850), Bouvier (1839)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A mutual promise between a man and a woman to marry each other at some other time. It differs from a marriage, because then the contract is completed. Wood, Inst. 57. ESPURIO (Spanish). A spurious child; one begotten on a woman who has promiscuous intercourse with many men. White, New Recop. bk. 1, tit. 5, c. 2, § 1.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
A mutual promise between a man and a woman to marry each other at some other time: it differs from a marriage, because then the contract is completed. Wood, Inst. 57. See Betrothment.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
A mutual promise between a man and a woman to marry each other at some other time. It differs froma marriage, because Lhen the contract is completed. Wood, Inst. 57.
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
[L. Fr. esposailles; Lat. sponsalia.] The contract, or mutual promise between a man and a woman, to marry each other. Wood's Inst. 57. The ceremony of betrothing.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
contracts, a mutual promise between a man and a woman to marry each other, at some other time: it differs from a marriage, because then the contract is completed. Wood’s Inst. 57; vide Dig. 23, 1,1; Code, 5,1, 4; Novel. 115, c. 8, 8. 11; Ayliff’s Parerg. 245.