Obs. Forms: α. 3 spus-, spousbruche, 5 spousebriche, spowsebrige. β. 3 spus-, 4 spous-, 4–6 spouse-, 5 spowsebreche, 6 spous-, 6–7 spouse-breach. [f. SPOUSE sb. + BREACH sb., after OE. ǽwbryce, ME. ewe-, eu-, EAUBRUCHE1.] Adultery.
α. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 56. [David] forȝet him suluen, so þet he dude … one Bersabee spus bruche.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4504. He … huld hire in spousbruche in vyl flesses dede.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 128. Who so euer were atteyntid of Spowse-brige, he sholde lesse both his eighyn.
c. 1430. Hymns Virgin (1867), 47. Oonis he saued a weddid wijf, in spousebriche þat hadde doon mys.
β. c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 30. Lecherie, spusbreche, Roberie, Manslechtes.
c. 1315. Shoreham, IV. 395. Of lecherye comeþ … Commune hordom, spousbreche.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 89. No trespas among hem is i-punisched so grevousliche as spouse breche.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 743. Þe furst day of his crownyng, In to spousebreche he fell anon.
a. 1476. H. Parker, Dives & Pauper (W. de W., 1496), III. x. 373/1. He forbydeth the wyll & the consent of herte to lecherye & to spousebreche.
c. 1550. R. Bieston, Bayte Fortune, A vj b. Spousebreche with sum is counted not a myte.
1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., VI. xxx. (1597), 150. We seuerally are … arayned Of Cuckoldie, of Spous-breach, and of Bastardy.
1637. Heywood, Royall King, IV. iii. Whence might this distaste arise? From any loose demeanor, wanton carriage, Spouse-breach, or disobedience in my daughter?
transf. 1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xliii. (Bodl. MS.). Þei [elephants] fight neuer for females noþer knoweþ spouse breche. Ibid., XVIII. lxvi. Leopardus is a cruel beeste and is gendred in spowsebreche of a parde and of a lionas.
