Be*troth" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrothed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Betrothing.] [Pref. be- + troth, i. e., truth. See Truth.] 1. To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of a woman.

He, in the first flower of my freshest age,
Betrothed me unto the only heir.
Spenser.

Ay, and we are betrothed.
Shak.

2. To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's troth to.

What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her?
Deut. xx. 7.

3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration. Ayliffe.

• to promise to give in marriage
       He betrothed his daughter to a distant relative.