mother-in-law

mother-in-law
mother-in-law (n.) mid-15c., "mother of one's spouse," from MOTHER (Cf. mother) (n.1) + IN-LAW (Cf. in-law). Also in early use, "stepmother." In British slang c.1884, mother-in-law was "a mixture of ales old and bitter."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mother-in-law — Moth er in law , n. The mother of one s husband or wife. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mother-in-law — mother in .law plural mothers in law n the mother of your wife or husband …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • mother-in-law — mother in ,law (plural mothers in ,law) noun count the mother of your husband or wife …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • mother-in-law — means one s wife s or husband s mother. The plural is mothers in law …   Modern English usage

  • mother-in-law — ► NOUN (pl. mothers in law) ▪ the mother of one s husband or wife …   English terms dictionary

  • mother-in-law — [muth′ərin lô΄] n. pl. mothers in law the mother of one s husband or wife …   English World dictionary

  • Mother-in-law — A person s mother in law is the mother of his or her spouse. A person is a son in law or daughter in law to the mother in law. She and the father in law are the parents of the spouse and, in a nuclear family, of the sisters in law and brothers in …   Wikipedia

  • mother-in-law —    This term is rarely used, perhaps because of its unwieldy length. Mothersin law are accorded different terms of address according to individual family circumstances and wishes. A considerable age difference may make the use of a first name… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • mother out-law — n. The mother of a person s former spouse (cf. mother in law). Example Citation: Scotland s weirdest wedding has been banned at the last minute. Pat Smith, 44, had been due to marry her toyboy lover George Greenhowe, 22, today. And George s ex… …   New words

  • mother-in-law — noun /ˈmʌð.ə(ɹ).ɪnˌlɔː/ a) One’s spouse’s mother. b) A mother in law apartment. See Also: brother in law, daughter in law, father in law, sister in law, son in l …   Wiktionary

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