betroth to

betroth (someone or oneself) to (someone)

1. To arrange a marriage between two people. Is it true that Lady Edith's family really betrothed her to that horrid man? My family has betrothed my sister to Alistair, and they are to be married in the spring. Yes, my parents want to betroth me to that woman, but I'm not too fond of her.

2. To agree or vow to marry someone. A: "Why would Alice betroth herself to someone so disreputable?" B: Well, he does have money." I would gladly betroth myself to a beauty like her! A: "I heard that mysterious visitor has betrothed himself to one of the ladies in town." B: "What? But he's only been here a few weeks!"

See also: betroth, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

betroth someone to someone

to promise someone in marriage to someone else. The king betrothed his daughter to a prince from the neighboring kingdom. She betrothed herself to one of the peasant boys from the village.

See also: betroth, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.