sponsālis, e, adj. [3. sponsus].
I Of or belonging to betrothal or espousal , spousal , sponsal (class.): quo die sponsum erat, sponsalis, Varr. L. L. 6, § 70 Müll.: tabulae, Hier. Ep. 54, 15: largitas, Cod. Th. 3, 16, 2. —
II Substt.
A sponsālĭa , ĭum (gen. sponsaliorum, Sen. Ben. 1, 9, 4; Suet. Aug. 53), n.
1 A betrothal , espousal : sponsalia dicta sunt a spondendo. Nam moris fuit veteribus stipulari et spondere sibi uxores futuras, Dig. 23, 1, 2; where v. the whole section: De sponsalibus; and cf. Sulp. ap. Gell. 4, 4, 2: qui (homines missi) Romam venerant factis sponsalibus, Cic. Att. 6, 6, 1; Liv. 38, 57; Ov. H. 19 (20), 29: parare, Juv. 6, 25: decentissimum sponsaliorum genus, Sen. Ben. 1, 9, 4: dies sponsaliorum, Suet. Aug. 53; Plin. 9, 35, 58, § 117. —*
2 A betrothal feast : A. d. VIII. Id. Apr. sponsalia Crassipedi praebui, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 6, 1.—
3 A betrothal gift (post-class.), Cod. Just. 5, 3, 3; 5, 71, 8.—*
B spon-sāle , is, n., a bridal bed , Tert. adv. Val. 31.