To espouse

[NortT]

Hello,
I'm confused about a verb "to espouse". Does the following sentences have a sence for you?
1. I espouse the ideology of the democrat party.
2. I espouse an idea to build a new house.

Can I use "to espouse" if I want to say that I support one's point of view, idea etc.?

 

[bhaisahab]

#1 is OK. #2 is not.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Democrat" should be capitalized, assuming it is a proper name of a party.

 

[NortT]

So I have to use "to espouse" in case I want to support political points of views. "To espouse" is just for a political context. Is it right?

 

[Barb_D]

No, not just for politics but it has to be more than idea. It has to be a set of beliefs or doctrine.

 

[NortT]

No, not just for politics but it has to be more than idea. It has to be a set of beliefs or doctrine.

Do you mean that I can espouse a complicated scientific theory as well as Christian or Muslim beliefs and other things like these?

 

[Barb_D]

Definitely on the beliefs. I'm of mixed feelings about the theory.

 

[Rover_KE]

NortT, click here to read many examples of espouse used in a variety of contexts.

Bookmark the site for future reference.

 

[Tdol]

Do you mean that I can espouse a complicated scientific theory

I think you could espouse a scientific theory if it was not established so it was closer to a belief. It wouldn't make much sense to me to espouse the theory of relativity as it's a standard theory. If a fundamentalist Christian espoused Darwinism, it would work.

 

[konungursvia]

I think you could espouse a scientific theory if it was not established so it was closer to a belief. It wouldn't make much sense to me to espouse the theory of relativity as it's a standard theory. If a fundamentalist Christian espoused Darwinism, it would work.

I agree. To espouse means, from others point of view, to become a supporter, to join a group or movement, by choice, much the same as you do when you marry (by choice).

 

[BobK]

:up: And just to underline something that K knows - but that may not have struck all readers: the word 'marry' is no accident in a discussion of the meaning of 'espouse'.

b