trothplight

[ trawth-plahyt, trohth- ]

noun

1. engagement to be married; betrothal.

verb (used with object)

1. to betroth.

adjective

1. betrothed.

trothplight

/ ˈtrəʊθˌplaɪt /

noun

1. a betrothal

verb

1. tr to betroth

adjective

1. betrothed; engaged

Word History and Origins

Origin of trothplight¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English trouth plight “having plighted troth, betrothed”; troth, plight ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of trothplight¹

C14: from troth + plight ²

Example Sentences

Trothplight was one thing, official betrothal another.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not surprising that he should enter some protest against any but a spontaneous cancelling of Gwen's trothplight.

From Project Gutenberg

But in whatever sense Thornton and Maisie were trothplight, her father opposed their marriage, although it would no doubt have been a social elevation for the miller's daughter.

From Project Gutenberg

It was striking her that if a trothplight were nothing but a sort of civil contract—civil in the sense of courteous, polite, urbane, accommodating—an exchange of letters through a callous Post Office—a woman might be engaged a dozen times and meet the males implicated in after-life, without turning a hair.

From Project Gutenberg

I know it, I know he loves me much, John; but he has promised me to the Stanleys, and when I told him of our trothplight he laughed, and said he was doing it all for the best.

From Project Gutenberg