épouser

Senses

1. 1.

   to marry

   to take as a spouse; to enter into matrimony with

2. 2.

   to adopt; to embrace

   to take up or support (an idea, cause, or movement)

3. 3.

   to fit closely to

   to conform to the shape or contours of (something)

Examples

• "Il a épousé Marie l'année dernière."

  He married Marie last year.

• "Elle a épousé la cause des droits humains."

  She embraced the cause of human rights.

• "La robe épouse parfaitement ses courbes."

  The dress fits her curves perfectly.

Usage

Épouser is formal and literary when used for "marry"; in modern French, "se marier avec" is more common in everyday speech. The figurative sense (to adopt a cause) is common in formal or political contexts. The physical sense (to conform to) is used especially with clothing or objects.