woman

woman
woman late O.E. wimman (pl. wimmen), lit. "woman-man," alteration of wifman (pl. wifmen), a compound of wif "woman" (see WIFE (Cf. wife)) + man "human being" (in Old English used in reference to both sexes; see MAN (Cf. man) (n.)). Cf. Du. vrouwmens "wife," lit. "woman-man." The formation is peculiar to English and Dutch. Replaced older Old English wif and quean as the word for "female human being." The pronunciation of the singular altered in Middle English by the rounding influence of -w-; the plural retains the original vowel. Meaning "wife," now largely restricted to U.S. dialectal use, is attested from mid-15c. Women's liberation is attested from 1966; women's rights is from 1840, with an isolated example in 1630s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Woman — • The position of woman in society has given rise to a discussion which, is known under the name of the woman question Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Woman     Woman      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • woman — [woom′ən] n. pl. women [wim′ən] [ME wumman < OE wimmann < wifmann < wif, female, WIFE + mann, human being, MAN: rounding of vowel due to infl. of the initial w ] 1. a) the female human being b) women collectively …   English World dictionary

  • Woman — ist der Name: Woman (Zeitschrift), österreichische Frauenzeitschrift Woman (2007), US amerikanische Filmbiographie Bouthaina Shaabans von Ziad H. Hamzeh Woman (Lied), Lied von John Lennon (1980) Woman (Mike McGear Album), Album von Mike McGear… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Woman — Wom an, n.; pl. {Women}. [OE. woman, womman, wumman, wimman, wifmon, AS. w[=i]fmann, w[=i]mmann; w[=i]f woman, wife + mann a man. See {Wife}, and {Man}.] [1913 Webster] 1. An adult female person; a grown up female person, as distinguished from a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Woman — «Woman» Sencillo de John Lennon del álbum Double Fantasy Formato Vinilo de 7 (45 R.P.M.) Grabación 5, 27 de agosto, 8 y 22 de septiembre de 1980 Género(s) …   Wikipedia Español

  • Woman — Single par John Lennon extrait de l’album Double Fantasy Pays  Royaume Uni …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Woman — (рус. Женщина) название нескольких песен: Woman (песня Берта Бакарака) Woman (песня Джона Леннона) Woman (песня Майка Макгира) Woman (песня Пола Маккартни) Woman (песня Wolfmother) См. также Женщина (значения) …   Википедия

  • woman — [n] female human aunt, daughter, gentlewoman, girl, girlfriend, grandmother, matron, mother, Ms./Miss/Mrs., niece, she, spouse, wife; concepts 414,415 Ant. man seaman / woman [n] sailor bluejacket, boater, boatman/woman, deck hand, mariner, mate …   New thesaurus

  • woman — ► NOUN (pl. women) 1) an adult human female. 2) a female worker or employee. 3) a wife or lover. ● the little woman Cf. ↑the little woman ● woman of the streets …   English terms dictionary

  • Woman — Wom an, v. t. 1. To act the part of a woman in; with indefinite it. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. To make effeminate or womanish. [R.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. To furnish with, or unite to, a woman. [R.] To have him see me woman d. Shak. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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