Recommends online brides? (8)

I believe the answer is:

espouses

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'recommends' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'online brides?' is the wordplay.
'online' becomes 'e' (as in e-mail or e-commerce).
'brides?' becomes 'spouses' (bride is a kind of spouse).
'e'+'spouses'='ESPOUSES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for espouses that I've seen before include "Marries, embraces" , "Takes up" , "Chooses and follows" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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