widow

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Related terms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old English widewe (“‘widow’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɪdəʊ

[edit] Noun

widow (plural widows)

1. A woman whose husband has died (and has not re-married); feminine of widower.
2. (informal, in combination) A woman whose husband is often away pursuing a sport, etc.
   • 1988, Emily Parry, "For a Bowling Widow, a Split Isn't Just Two Lonely Pins," New York Times, 27 Nov.,

     I had been feeling like a bowling-alley widow, but knew he loved the game, so I suggested we join a mixed league.

3. (printing) A single line of type that ends a paragraph, carried over to the next page or column.
4. type of venomous spider, of the genus Latrodectus

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Related terms

• widower
• widowhood

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to widow (third-person singular simple present widows, present participle widowing, simple past and past participle widowed)

1. (transitive) To make a widow (or widower) of someone; to cause the death of one's spouse.