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• n  archaic terms for a wedding or wedding feast
• n  the act of becoming betrothed or engaged
• n  the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception

• Like the speller who asked you last year if you could use the word espousal in a song.
• Despite its frequently childish espousal of childlessness, NON makes some valid points.
• FEDERAL OFFICIALS DISSEMINATED TO "COOPERATIVE NEWS sources" a blind memorandum stating that the "result of King's famous espousal of nonviolence was vandalism, looting and riot.

• bridal
• betrothal
• adoption
• acceptance
• acceptation

Quotes

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• LK Advani in BBC News
  Mr Advani spoke of Mr Jinnah's "forceful espousal of a secular state in which every citizen would be free to practice his own religion".
• Ralph Recto in ABS CBN News
  You cannot outlaw an idea. What you can, however illegalize are criminal acts used in pursuit of that idea. Mere espousal of communism should not be deemed an illegal act,Recto said.
• Manmohan Singh in Press Trust of India
  His strong espousal of women's empowerment and the empowerment of the downtrodden has shaped public consciousness in post independence India,Singh said in a condolence message to Tendulkar's family.