stepmother

English

/ˈstɛpmʌðə/

noun
Definitions
  • The wife of one's biological father, other than one's biological mother.
  • (botany) A viola, especially Viola tricolor, heartsease.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English stepmoder inherited from Old English stēopmōdor inherited from Proto-Germanic *steupamōdēr (stepmother) prefix from English mother (fermented culture).

Origin

English

mother

Gloss

fermented culture

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms