ex-husband
Meaning
a man to whom one was formerly married.
Structure
Usage
she remains on good terms with her ex-husband for the sake of their children.
he is required to pay alimony to his ex-husband following their divorce settlement.
her ex-husband attended the family wedding, which was a little awkward at first.
Etymology
the word is a modern english compound formed by combining the latin prefix 'ex-', denoting a former state or separation, with the old english noun 'husband'. the term 'husband' itself evolved from the old norse 'húsbóndi', meaning "master of a house", which combines 'hús' (house) and 'bóndi' (dweller, freeholder). the compound 'ex-husband' follows a transparent and productive pattern in english for denoting former relationships, applying the classical prefix to a germanic base word to create a precise legal and social designation for a man after the dissolution of a marriage.
Analysis
ex- is a prefix of Latin origin meaning "out of, from, former". husband is a noun of Old English origin (from hūsbonda, meaning "male head of a household").