widow

widow
{{11}}widow (n.) O.E. widewe, widuwe, from P.Gmc. *widewo (Cf. O.S. widowa, O.Fris. widwe, M.Du., Du. weduwe, Du. weeuw, O.H.G. wituwa, Ger. Witwe, Goth. widuwo), from PIE adj. *widhewo (Cf. Skt. vidhuh "lonely, solitary," vidhava "widow;" Avestan vithava, L. vidua, O.C.S. vidova, Rus. vdova, O.Ir. fedb, Welsh guedeu "widow;" Pers. beva, Gk. eitheos "unmarried man;" L. viduus "bereft, void"), from root *weidh- "to separate" (Cf. second element in L. di-videre "to divide;" see WITH (Cf. with)).
As a prefix to a name, attested from 1570s. Meaning "short line of type" (especially at the top of a column) is 1904 print shop slang. Widow's mite is from Mark xii:43. Widow's peak is from the belief that hair growing to a point on the forehead is an omen of early widowhood, suggestive of the "peak" of a widow's hood. Widow maker "anything lethally dangerous" first recorded 1945, originally among loggers, in reference to dead trees, etc. The widow bird (1747) so-called in reference to the long black tail feathers of the males, suggestive of widows' veils.
{{12}}widow (v.) c.1300; see WIDOW (Cf. widow) (n.). Related: Widowed; widowing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • WIDOW — (Heb. אַלְמָנָה, almanah; pl. אַלְמָנוֹת, almanot). Biblical Period The Hebrew substantive almanah, usually translated widow, often does not simply denote a woman whose husband is dead, but rather a once married woman who has no means of… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Widow — • Canonical prescriptions concerning widows in the Old Testament refer mainly to the question of remarriage Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Widow     Widow      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Widow — Wid ow (w[i^]d [ o]), n. [OE. widewe, widwe, AS. weoduwe, widuwe, wuduwe; akin to OFries. widwe, OS. widowa, D. weduwe, G. wittwe, witwe, OHG. wituwa, witawa, Goth. widuw[=o], Russ. udova, OIr. fedb, W. gweddw, L. vidua, Skr. vidhav[=a]; and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Widow — Wid ow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Widowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Widowing}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To reduce to the condition of a widow; to bereave of a husband; rarely used except in the past participle. [1913 Webster] Though in thus city he Hath widowed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • widow — n. A wife who remains alive after her husband dies. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008. widow A woman whose husband died while she was married to him …   Law dictionary

  • Widow — Wid ow, a. Widowed. A widow woman. 1 Kings xvii. 9. This widow lady. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • WIDOW — is a full length album recorded by British rock band Ritual released in 1983. The album gained notability for the band when it was played several times by Alan Freeman on the Friday Rock Show.Also played on The World Service during an hour long… …   Wikipedia

  • widow — ► NOUN 1) a woman who has lost her husband by death and has not married again. 2) humorous a woman whose husband is often away participating in a specified sport or activity: a golf widow. ► VERB (be widowed) ▪ become a widow or widower. ORIGIN… …   English terms dictionary

  • widow — [wid′ō] n. [ME widwe < OE widewe, akin to Ger witwe, L vidua < IE * widhewo , separated < base * weidh , to separate: see DIVIDE] 1. a woman who has outlived the man to whom she was married at the time of his death; esp., such a woman… …   English World dictionary

  • Widow —   [engl.] Hurenkind …   Universal-Lexikon

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