stepmother
nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈstɛpmʌðə//
A woman who is a subsequent wife or partner of a person's parent, usually following the divorce or separation of their parents, or the death of one's biological mother. A person or thing likened to a stereotypical stepmother, having cold, cruel, or ungenerous qualities.
noun
- 1
A woman who is a subsequent wife or partner of a person's parent, usually following the divorce or separation of their parents, or the death of one's biological mother. A person or thing likened to a stereotypical stepmother, having cold, cruel, or ungenerous qualities.
- 2
A woman who is a subsequent wife or partner of a person's parent, usually following the divorce or separation of their parents, or the death of one's biological mother. An animal, typically a bird, who raises the offspring of another animal.
- 3
Synonym of co-mother (“the non-birth mother of a child in a lesbian couple”).
- 4
rareA viola, especially Viola tricolor, heartsease.
The second came up about ten days later in the lee of the channel marker, and it was called stepmother, or love-in-idelness.
- 5
Variant of stepmother's blessingClipping of stepmother's blessing.
Etymology
From Middle English stepmoder, from Old English stēopmōdor, from Proto-Germanic *steupamōdēr (“stepmother”), corresponding to step- + mother. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stäifmuur (“stepmother”), Dutch stiefmoeder (“stepmother”), German Low German Steevmoder (“stepmother”), German Stiefmutter (“stepmother”), Danish stedmor (“stepmother”), Swedish styvmor (“stepmother”), Icelandic stjúpmóðir (“stepmother”). Compare also West Frisian styfmem (“stepmother”).
Forms
- plural
- stepmothers
stepmother · A woman who is a subsequent wife or partner of a person's parent, usually following the divorce or separation of their parents, or the death of one's…
stepped · Provided with a step or steps; having a series of offsets or…stepping · The act of taking a step.steps · a course followed by a person in walking or as walking