1. The act or fact of being engaged and promising to marry: The espousal of Mary's uncle Jason, and his long-time friend, Leah, was announced in the local paper on the weekend.
2. A support expressed in favor of an idea or an action regarding a proposal of something: Jim's espousal was to keep his old car because it was still performing very well and so he decided not to waste so much money to buy a new one.