Unwed
/ʌnˈwɛd/noun
Not married.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, being unwed was often linked to the divine and the sacred, representing a form of spiritual independence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weḱs-
“to unite or join together, possibly in a sacred context.”
Old English
Old English
wēddian
“to pledge or to engage in a marriage contract.”
Middle English
Middle English
wedde
“a pledge or promise, especially in the context of marriage.”
14th Century
Middle English
unwedde
“not engaged in a marriage contract, reflecting societal views on marriage.”
Modern English
English
unwed
“the state of not being married, often carrying connotations of independence.”