To refuse to marry or to reject as a spouse; to repudiate a marriage or betrothal.
From prefix dis- (reverse, undo) plus espouse (to marry or pledge), which comes from Old French 'espouser,' from Latin 'sponsare' (to promise). This archaic term appears in medieval and early modern literature.
In Shakespeare's time, 'espouse' meant to marry someone, so 'disespouse' meant to break off an engagement or annul a marriage—it was a dramatic way to describe family scandals! Modern English just uses 'divorce' instead.
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