widowhood

[ wid-oh-hood ]

noun

1. the state or a period of being a widow or, sometimes, a widower.

Word History and Origins

Origin of widowhood¹

before 900; Middle English wid ( e ) wehood, Old English widuwanhād, equivalent to widuwan, genitive singular of widuwe widow + -hād -hood

Example Sentences

Nonyem is a character in all of Aduba’s stories—her daily confidant, her travel companion, her source of wisdom and guidance, her hero who survived polio and war and widowhood, the person she leans on and looks up to most in the world.

From Time

Some experienced short intervals of isolation following widowhood, but few among those who could afford the expense deliberately set up home by themselves.

From Time

When you look at happiness studies, you see that people acclimate to even terrible events: widowhood, divorce, terrible injuries.

From The Daily Beast

These two things shall come upon thee suddenly in one day, barrenness and widowhood.

From Project Gutenberg

They generally granted outdoor relief to widows for the first few weeks of their widowhood, and were often driven to extend it.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon adultery becomes the most respectable form of marriage, and widowhood and celibacy are commonly practised.

From Project Gutenberg

In the first months of her widowhood therefore her whole attitude was reversed.

From Project Gutenberg

By the order of September 1911 twenty years of widowhood cleanse from alien pollution.

From Project Gutenberg