Widow
/ˈwɪd.oʊ/noun
A woman whose spouse has died and who has not remarried.
Did you know?In ancient Rome, widows were expected to wear somber clothing, symbolizing their mourning, and were often isolated from society during this period.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*widʰ-
“to separate, divide, or be apart”
Old English
Old English
wuduwe
“a woman who has lost her husband”
Old High German
OHG
widuwa
“widow, bereaved woman”
Middle English
Middle English
widwe
“woman whose husband has died”
Modern English
English
widow
“a woman whose spouse has died, without remarriage”