stepmother

[ step-muhth-er ]

/ ˈstɛpˌmʌð ər /

noun

the wife of one's father by a later marriage.

Nearby words

stephenson, stephenson, george, stephenville, stepin fetchit, stepladder, stepmother, stepney, stepover, steppage, stepparent, steppe

Origin of stepmother

before 900; Middle English stepmoder, Old English stēopmōdor. See step-, mother¹

Related formsstep·moth·er·ly, adverbstep·moth·er·li·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for stepmother

This was said to have created tension between his two grown daughters and their stepmother, who were known not to get along.
Would You Stay in Lizzie Borden’s Ax-Murder House?|Nina Strochlic|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her father and stepmother both beat her, and she was forced to become a maid in her own house.
How One Young Woman Escaped Childhood Abuse and a Forced Marriage|Moral Courage|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On December 18, Kerri and her brother, Mike, told Piers Morgan on CNN about their grievances with their stepmother.
Casey Kasem's Family's Top 40 Meltdown Moments|Tim Teeman|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My stepmother knew Rabbi Kahane through her political activism in the 80's and remained close with some of his confidantes.
My Former Life As a Kahanist Posterboy|Zack Parker|June 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

My relationship with Kahanism began in 2004, at the age of 10, when I moved to Israel to live with my father and stepmother.
My Former Life As a Kahanist Posterboy|Zack Parker|June 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Helen marvelled and the stepmother wondered at seeing the fruit.
Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen|Alexander Chodsko
Tony drew comparisons between his dead mother, his stepmother and his proposed wife, and morals therefrom.
A Humble Enterprise|Ada Cambridge
For my part, I never saw a froward child mended by whipping; and I would not have the mother country become a stepmother.
The PG Edition of Chesterfield's Letters to His Son|The Earl of Chesterfield
Wonderful handy with babies, though, and if anybody was wanting a nurse now—a stepmother's breath is cold—but Nancy!
The Manxman|Hall Caine
Their proper names are not given, and we do not learn that the stepmother has a pair of sons.
The English and Scottish popular ballads (Volume II of 5)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for stepmother

stepmother

/ (ˈstɛpˌmʌðə) /

noun

a woman who has married one's father after the death or divorce of one's mother

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for stepmother

stepmother

Old English steopmodor; see step- + mother (n.1).

stepmother

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Nearby words

Origin of stepmother

Examples from the Web for stepmother

British Dictionary definitions for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} stepmother

stepmother

noun

Word Origin and History for stepmother

stepmother

noun

British Dictionary definitions for stepmother