ex-wife

The word is a modern English compound formed by directly attaching the Latin-derived prefix 'ex-' to the native English noun 'wife'. The prefix 'ex-', from Latin 'ex' meaning "out of, from," is widely used in English to denote a former status, as seen in terms like 'ex-president' or 'ex-employee'. The word 'wife' itself has Germanic roots, originating from Old English 'wīf' meaning "woman," which narrowed in meaning to specifically denote a married woman. Therefore, 'ex-wife' logically constructs its meaning through the transparent combination "former woman-spouse," a formation that became commonplace with the need for clear, neutral terminology for relationships after divorce.

Structure: ex (former) + wife (spouse) - ex: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "out of, from, former." In this compound, it functions to indicate a former state or status. - wife: A noun of Old English origin (wīf, meaning "woman"), functioning as the core element denoting the female spouse.