betrothal

/bi'trouðəl/

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Word: Betrothal

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Betrothal is the act of becoming engaged or making a mutual promise to marry someone. It signifies a commitment to enter into marriage in the future.

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: You can use "betrothal" when talking about engagement or when discussing plans to marry. It’s often used in more formal contexts or in literature.
• How to Use: You can say, "Their betrothal was celebrated with a small ceremony."

Example Sentence:

• "After a year of dating, they announced their betrothal to their friends and family."

Advanced Usage:

• In some cultures, a betrothal can involve formal agreements between families, and it may include ceremonies that are significant in those cultures.

Word Variants:

• Betrothed (adjective): This describes someone who is engaged to be married. For example, "She is betrothed to her childhood sweetheart."
• Betroth (verb): This means to promise to marry someone. For example, "They decided to betroth themselves to each other."

Different Meaning:

• In modern terms, "betrothal" is almost synonymous with engagement, but historically, it can imply more formal arrangements, often involving families and contracts.

Synonyms:

• Engagement
• Promise
• Commitment to marry

Related Idioms:

• "Put a ring on it": This means to propose marriage, typically with a ring.
• "Tie the knot": This is an idiom that means to get married.

Academic

Noun

1. the act of becoming betrothed or engaged
2. a mutual promise to marry

Synonyms

• espousal
• troth
• engagement