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    spouse

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    spouse
    spouse /spaʊs, spaʊz/ noun [countable] formal
     Date: 1100-1200
     Language: Old French
     Origin: espous(e), from Latin sponsus 'promised (in marriage)', from spondere; ⇨ sponsor1
    a husband or wife:
        Spouses were invited to the company picnic.
    —spousal /ˈspaʊzəl/ adjective:
        spousal abuse
         
    THESAURUS
    ■ husband/wife etc
       ▪ husband/wife the man/woman you are married to: My wife’s a teacher.
       ▪ partner the person you live with and have a sexual relationship with. Partner is often used when people are not married, or when you do not know if they are married. It is also used when talking about same-sex couples: He lives with his partner Ruth and their eight-month-old son.
       ▪ fiancé/fiancée the man/woman you are engaged to: He and fiancée Wendy Hodgson will marry in July.
       ▪ divorcee a woman who is divorced: The Prince announced his intention to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
       ▪ widow/widower a woman or man whose husband or wife has died: Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former President
       ▪ spouse formal your spouse is your husband or wife: The rule applies to spouses and children of military personnel.
       ▪ estranged wife/husband formal someone’s estranged husband or wife is one who they do not live with anymore: She is trying to get her sons back from her estranged husband.