aunt
Meaning
- The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
- The female cousin or cousin-in-law of one’s parent.
- A woman of an older generation than oneself, especially a friend of one's parents, by means of fictive kin.
- (obsolete) Any elderly woman.
- (obsolete) A procuress or bawd.
Synonyms
father’s sister
mother’s sister
mother’s younger sister
uncle’s wife
mother’s elder sister
older woman
Madam
maternal uncle’s wife
mother’s brother’s wife
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ɑːnt/
Etymology
From Middle English aunte, from Anglo-Norman aunte, from Old French ante, from Latin amita (“father's sister”). Displaced native Middle English modrie (“aunt”) (from Old English mōdriġe (“maternal aunt”); compare Old English faþu, faþe (“paternal aunt”)).
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Notes