stepmother

Meaning

1. The wife of one's biological father, other than one's biological mother.
2. (rare) A viola, especially Viola tricolor, heartsease.

Synonyms

stepparent

step-mother

foster mother

mother-in-law

stepfather

aunt

stepmom

foster-mother

mother

👩‍🍼

junior step-mother

paternal uncle’s wife

Translations

matrigna

belle-mère

madrastra

Stiefmutter

marâtre

stiefmoeder

madrastra

madrasta

noverca

μητριά

θετή μητέρα

mairastra

sogra

madrigna

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈstɛpmʌðə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: stepmoder

Inherited from Old English: stēopmōdor

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Stäifmuur

Cognate with Dutch: stiefmoeder

Cognate with German: Stiefmutter

Cognate with Danish: stedmor

Cognate with Swedish: styvmor

Cognate with Icelandic: stjúpmóðir

Cognate with Western Frisian: styfmem

In summary

From Middle English stepmoder, from Old English stēopmōdor, from Proto-Germanic *steupamōdēr (“stepmother”), corresponding to step- + mother. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stäifmuur (“stepmother”), Dutch stiefmoeder (“stepmother”), German Low German Steevmoder (“stepmother”), German Stiefmutter (“stepmother”), Danish stedmor (“stepmother”), Swedish styvmor (“stepmother”), Icelandic stjúpmóðir (“stepmother”). Compare also West Frisian styfmem (“stepmother”).