betrothing

Betrothing, or betrothal, is a formal promise to marry, made between two parties and often accompanied by a contract or agreement. The term derives from Old English treowþ (truth, fidelity), with the verb be-trothian meaning to pledge faith or marriage. Historically, betrothal could carry legal or social obligations beyond a mere suggestion of marriage.

In many contexts, betrothal involved negotiation of terms such as dowry, property arrangements, or the consent of families or guardians. Some betrothals were solemnized by ceremonies or oaths and could be binding in law or custom; others were informal promises later formalized by a marriage contract. The phrasing "plighting one's troth" referred to a formal vow of fidelity and marriage, a usage still encountered in literary or ceremonial language.

Modern usage tends to distinguish betrothal from engagement; engagement is the modern, typically non-binding promise to marry, whereas betrothal historically implied a more binding commitment, sometimes enforceable by social or legal norms. Today, betrothal survives chiefly as a historical or ceremonial term, used to describe traditional promises in literature or in communities maintaining old customs.

See also: marriage contract, dowry, troth, engagement, betrothal ceremonies.