Dictionary

unwed en · ADJ · etymology 1

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English wed English unwed From un- (not) + wed.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Not married.

unwed en · NOUN · etymology 1

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English wed English unwed From un- (not) + wed.

Meanings

1. One who is not married; a bachelor or a spinster.
   • Should unweds living together receive the same social benefits as married couples?
   • Perhaps the most awkward situation for the inexperienced young landlady was how to deal with “unweds.” 1944, Emily Carr, “Unmarried”, in The House of All Sorts:

Forms

unwed en · VERB · etymology 2

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-West Germanic *anda- Old English and- Old English on- Middle English on- English un- English wed English unwed From un- (to reverse) + wed.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To annul the marriage of.
   • At last it was determined to unwed the unhappy pair, during the arrangements for which the husband was arrested and put into jail for six months for rioting. 1918, All the World, volume 39, page 304:
2. (figuratively, transitive) To separate.
   • A singer must be a fool indeed if you do not hear through Sullivan's notes the exact language of any song. Take, for example, the well-known Sentry song in Iolanthe and attempt to unwed the wit of the air from the wit of the thought and words; […] 2008, Arthur Quiller-Couch, Studies in Literature: Third Series, page 206:

Forms