I.an engagement, betrothal; bail, suretyship (rare but class.): “quod sponsu erat alligatus,” Varr. L. L. 6, § 71 sq. Müll.: “de sponsu si quid perspexeris,” Cic. Att. 12, 19, 2: “agere cum aliquo ex sponsu,” Varr. 1. 1.: “sponsu locare,” Phaedr. 1, 16, 1; Sulp. ap. Gell. 4, 4, 2: “lex Furia de sponsu adversus eum, qui, etc.,” Gai. Inst. 4, 22.
sponsus , ūs, m. spondeo,