adj
betrothed
bih-TROHTHD
Betrothed (adj) means Formally promised in marriage; engaged. Example: “She was betrothed to a man she had never met.”
adj
1
Formally promised in marriage; engaged.
"She was betrothed to a man she had never met."
"The two families had betrothed their children as infants."
noun
1
The person one is engaged to marry; a fiancé or fiancée.
"He introduced his betrothed to the rest of the wedding party."
How to use betrothed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, slightly old-fashioned word for someone's fiancé/fiancée, or for being engaged.
Common pairings
his betrothed
betrothed since childhood
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Word forms
- Plural
- betrotheds
- Comparative
- more betrothed
- Superlative
- most betrothed
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She was _____ to a man she had never met.
Etymology
Past participle of betroth, from Middle English, built from be- + trouthe ("truth, pledge") — literally "to pledge one's truth to."
Synonyms
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engaged
bespoken
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for betrothed
See all rhymes for betrothed →Frequently asked questions
What does “betrothed” mean?
The word “betrothed” means formally promised in marriage; engaged. In plain terms, a formal, slightly old-fashioned word for someone's fiancé/fiancée, or for being engaged.
How do you pronounce “betrothed”?
“Betrothed” is pronounced bih-TROHTHD (/bɪˈtɹəʊðd/ in IPA).
How do you use “betrothed” in a sentence?
Here is “betrothed” used in a sentence: “She was betrothed to a man she had never met.”
What part of speech is “betrothed”?
Depending on how it is used, “betrothed” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “betrothed” come from?
The word “betrothed” comes from Middle English. Past participle of betroth, from Middle English, built from be- + trouthe ("truth, pledge") — literally "to pledge one's truth to.".
How many meanings does “betrothed” have?
“Betrothed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: formally promised in marriage; engaged.
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