Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
eldmother. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
eldmother, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
eldmother in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
eldmother you have here. The definition of the word
eldmother will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
eldmother, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English eldmoder, from Old English eald mōdor (“grandmother”), equivalent to eld (“old”) + mother. Cognate with Scots eldmoder, eldmother (“mother-in-law”), Old Frisian aldmōder, aldemōder (“grandmother”).
Noun
eldmother (plural eldmothers)
- (dialectal, now archaic) One's grandmother or other female ancestor, or one's mother-in-law.
- 1571 November 5, John Heworth of Gatisheid, Will, in Wills and Inventories from the Registry at Durham (1835):
- Item I gyve vnto my eldmother his wyffe my wyffes froke and a read petticote and a smoke.
1586 July 15, “Isabel Chamber against John Robson in Causa Defamationis”, in Depositions and Other Ecclesiastical Proceedings from the Courts ... of Durham, published 1845:John Morpeth [...] saith that, on Sondaie last [...] the said John Robson said to the said Arthure, "Thou haiest a witch to thy eldmother[.]"
See also
References
- Language in Scotland: Corpus-based Studies (2013, →ISBN, page 159: Eldmother 'grandmother' has a similar range of dates, with no citations for 'mother-in-law' but a meaning of 'step-mother' surviving in Scots and northern English use until 1864.