espouse

Espouse is a verb with two primary senses. In modern English, it means to adopt or support a cause, belief, or way of life. It is typically transitive: one espouses a political ideology, a set of principles, or a position. The sense "to marry" is archaic or formal and appears mainly in historical or literary contexts.

Etymology: The word comes from Old French espooser, espouser "to marry," from Latin sponsus "betrothed." The figurative sense of adopting or embracing something developed later and is now the common usage, while the literal sense survives mostly in older texts.

Espousal as a noun refers to the act of espousing or, in older usage, the betrothal or engagement. In modern writing, espousal most often means the act of adopting a belief or supporting a cause. Common collocations include espouse a belief, espouse a principle, or espouse the tenets of democracy.

See also: advocate, champion, endorsement, betrothal, engagement.