espouse
Cross references: 1. adopt es.pouse \is-'pau.z, -'pau.s\ vt [ME espousen, fr. MF espouser, fr. LL sponsare to betroth, fr]. L sponsus, pp. of sponde-re to promise, betroth - more at SPOUSE 1: MARRY 2: to take up the cause of : SUPPORT - es.pous.er n