daughter-in-law

[ daw-ter-in-law ]

noun

, plural daugh·ters-in-law.

1. the wife of one's child.

daughter-in-law

noun

1. the wife of one's son

Word History and Origins

Origin of daughter-in-law¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English doughter in lawe; daughter, in, law ¹; from Middle English in-lawe “in law,” i.e., “a person within the regulation and protection of the law,” based on the prohibition by Roman civil law and, later, Christian canon law, of marriages within four degrees of consanguinity, i.e., up to and including first cousins

Example Sentences

And there is this curious connection as well: Leila and Temur have the same daughter-in-law.

From The Daily Beast

The family shared housing with the ever present and domineering Sara, who rarely had a kind word for her daughter-in-law.

From The Daily Beast

She was already complaining that people would send money to her daughter-in-law Marina, but that she would be forgotten.

From The Daily Beast

His wife, son, and daughter-in-law are all A-listers in the industry.

From The Daily Beast

Now staying with his son and daughter-in-law in their small apartment in Bayside, Queens, he is facing two battles.

From The Daily Beast

They were still living in 1823, when their son and their daughter-in-law had been deceased some time.

From Project Gutenberg

Although a bourgeoisie of strict ideas, Mme. du Bruel welcomed the dancer Tullia, who became her daughter-in-law.

From Project Gutenberg

His daughter-in-law looked at him with compassionate eyes that he could hardly bear.

From Project Gutenberg

I intend to make my daughter-in-law very happy and I am afraid that my son will not make her so.

From Project Gutenberg

There is not one I have mentioned who is not unexceptionable, and whom I would gladly embrace as a daughter-in-law.

From Project Gutenberg