aunt

Meaning

  1. The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
  2. The female cousin or cousin-in-law of one’s parent.
  3. A woman of an older generation than oneself, especially a friend of one's parents, by means of fictive kin.
  4. (obsolete) Any elderly woman.
  5. (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

A2
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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