Legal Definitions - sponsalia

Definition: Sponsalia (spon-say-lee-ə) is a Latin term that refers to two things:

1. An engagement to marry
2. An engagement gift

It is also known as stipulatio sponsalitia.

Example 1: When John proposed to Mary, they had a sponsalia, which meant they were officially engaged to be married.

Example 2: As an engagement gift, Tom gave his fiancée a beautiful diamond ring. This ring was considered a sponsalia.

These examples illustrate how sponsalia can refer to both the act of becoming engaged to be married and the gift given during the engagement period.