betroth
/bɪˈtrəʊð/ (bre, ipa) · /bɪˈtroʊð/ (ame, ipa) · /bi-ˈtrōt͟h -ˈtrȯth bē-/ (ame, mw)
betroth — 動詞
- betrothpresent simple I / you / we / they
- betroths3rd person singular
- betrothing-ing form
- betrothedpast simple
1. To make an official promise that a particular person will marry another, often b
許婚
正式承諾締結婚約
To make an official promise that a particular person will marry another, often by a formal pledge or ceremony. In modern use, almost always found in historical or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.
Theo and Neha were betrothed in a small ceremony attended by both families.
Theo 和 Neha 在一個由雙方家人參加的小型儀式中許下婚約。
were betrothed
According to the old letter, the young couple betrothed themselves to each other without their parents' permission.
根據那封舊信，這對年輕情侶在未經父母同意的情況下互相許婚。
betrothed themselves to
The two kingdoms betrothed their heirs to seal the peace treaty between them.
兩個王國為了鞏固和平條約，讓各自的繼承人訂下婚約。
In the story, the knight betrothed his son to the daughter of the rival lord.
故事中，騎士將自己的兒子許配給敵對領主的女兒。
- engage
The modern everyday equivalent; 'get engaged' is used in casual and formal contexts alike, while 'betroth' belongs to historical or ceremonial writing.
- affiance
Even rarer and more literary than 'betroth'; almost never used outside 19th-century novels.
- plight one's troth
An archaic set phrase meaning to make a marriage pledge, found in traditional wedding vows and historical fiction.
文法句型
betroth + person + to + person
be betrothed to someone
betroth oneself to someone
用法筆記
Almost always used in the passive form ("be betrothed to someone") or in historical/literary narrative. In modern everyday English, "get engaged" is the natural equivalent. The active form ("X betrothed Y to Z") sounds highly archaic.
常見錯誤
2. Of a parent, guardian, or other authority figure: to arrange for a child or depe
許配
長輩為子女安排婚事
Of a parent, guardian, or other authority figure: to arrange for a child or dependant to marry a particular person, often for family alliances, economic gain, or social status.
The duke betrothed his eldest daughter to a count when she was just fifteen.
公爵在女兒年僅十五歲時便將她許配給一位伯爵。
betrothed his eldest daughter to
Local custom allowed the village elders to betroth orphaned children to suitable families.
當地習俗允許村中長老為孤兒安排婚事。
The merchant betrothed his only daughter to the son of a trading partner.
商人將獨生女許配給合作夥伴的兒子。
In the novel, the widow betrothed her son to a neighbour's daughter to combine the two farms.
小說中，寡婦將兒子許配給鄰居的女兒，以便合併兩座農場。
- promise in marriage
A descriptive phrase that conveys the same idea in modern English without the archaic tone.
- give away
Used in wedding ceremonies ('Who gives this woman away?'), but restricted to the moment of marriage rather than the prior arrangement.
文法句型
betroth + person + to + person
be betrothed to someone
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (which focuses on the mutual promise to marry), this sense emphasises the authority of the arranging parent or guardian. Now considered dated; in modern contexts, 'arrange a marriage' or 'promise in marriage' are preferred.