betrothed

[ bih-trohthd, -trawtht ]

adjective

1. engaged to be married:

   She is betrothed to that young lieutenant.

noun

1. the person to whom one is engaged:

   He introduced us to his betrothed.

betrothed

/ bɪˈtrəʊðd /

adjective

1. engaged to be married

   he was betrothed to her

noun

1. the person to whom one is engaged; fiancé or fiancée

Other Words From

• unbe·trothed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of betrothed¹

First recorded in 1530–40; betroth + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Just months ago, Ashanti confirmed that she and the “Hot in Herre” rapper, 49, were betrothed and expecting their first child together.

From Los Angeles Times

Lopez and Affleck were previously betrothed in the early aughts but famously called off their engagement.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Mirror told me that I will be protected from you as long as a certain princess isn’t around in your moment of need. I believe you know of this girl—you were at one point betrothed to her, after all.”

From Literature

You’ve surely seen these pictures: The newly betrothed couple walking back down the aisle, the bride and groom graciously taking in their champagne toasts, a few dizzying iPhone videos from a crowded dance floor.

From Slate

The year after she married, Andrej was betrothed to a clerk’s daughter; he later married her and became a Lutheran priest.

From New York Times