divorcee
UK[dɪˌvɔːˈsiː]US[dɪˌvɔːrˈseɪ]
n
a person who is divorced.
Morpheme Breakdown
divorce
ee
divorce
divorce
ee
person affected
Etymology
the word "divorcee" is a modern legal and social term constructed from existing english components. it is formed by appending the french-derived agent suffix "-ee" to the noun "divorce." the suffix "-ee" in english law often indicates the passive recipient of an action, here meaning "one who has been divorced." the core noun "divorce" entered english from old french, ultimately tracing back to latin 'divortium,' from 'divertere' meaning 'to turn aside' or 'separate.' thus, a divorcee is literally "a person who has undergone a legal separation."
Analysis
Structure: divorce (divorce) + ee (person affected)
divorce (from latin 'divortium', meaning separation, divorce); ee (suffix from anglo-french '-é', from latin '-atus', forming nouns denoting a person affected by the action).
Examples
she became a divorcee after her marriage was legally dissolved.
the support group provides a network for single parents and divorcees.
as a recent divorcee, he was adjusting to life on his own.