■ spouse

指“配偶”，妻子或丈夫都可以（后面的 -se 发[s]音）。如果前头加个字母 e-，成为 espouse（后面的 -se 发[z]音），就成了及物动词，原意也是“娶…为妻子”，但这个意义已经陈旧，现代的转义是“信奉”、“拥护”某一主张（属表示延续状态的第一类动词）。

• Both candidates espouse democratic ideals.两位候选人都信奉民主理想。
• Say that you will espouse my cause. (Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Gods of Mars)你说一声你参加我们的事业吧。
• In effect, the principles and goals of change and diversity that Clinton has espoused for so long are now embodied in a more compelling way by someone else. (US News & World Report, May 19, 2008, p.16)其实，（希拉里·）克林顿这么长期以来所一直信奉的变革和多样化原则和目标，现在却竟然确确凿凿地体现在别人身上。
• ... Americans have elected a generation of political leaders espousing the wonder-working power of free markets... (US News & World Report, April 21, 2008, p.45)…美国人曾经选出了整整一代的信奉自由市场神奇威力的政治领袖们…