spinster

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English

Etymology

From Middle English spynnestere (“woman who spins fibre”), from c. 1350; equivalent to spin +‎ -ster. The semantic development is from a historical notion of unmarried women spinning thread for a living.

Pronunciation

Noun

spinster (plural spinsters)

  1. (sometimes derogatory) A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.
    Synonym: old maid
    • 1628–1644, Edw[ard] Coke, (please specify |part=1 to 4), London:
      If […] a woman be named spinster, she may abate […] the same [writ].
  2. One who spins (puts a spin on) a political media story so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance; a spin doctor, spin merchant or spinmeister.
  3. (obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.
  4. (obsolete) A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.
  5. (rare, dialectal) A spider; an insect (such as a silkworm) which spins thread.

Translations

one who spins a political media story

See also

Further reading

Anagrams

Dutch

Etymology

From spinnen (“to spin”) +‎ -ster.

Pronunciation

Noun

spinster f (plural spinsters, diminutive spinstertje n)

  1. a female spinner
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