stepdaughter
Meaning
A daughter of one's husband or wife by a previous partner.
Structure
Usage
She has a very close relationship with her stepdaughter.
He treated his stepdaughter with the same love and care as his biological children.
The will included provisions for both her son and her stepdaughter.
Etymology
The word 'stepdaughter' is a compound formed from two Old English elements. The prefix 'step-' originates from the Old English 'stēop-', which carried the specific meaning of orphaned or bereaved, later evolving to denote relationships created by the remarriage of a parent. The core noun 'daughter' comes from the Old English 'dohtor', a term with deep Proto-Indo-European roots (dʰugh₂tḗr) signifying a female child. The compound thus logically constructs the meaning of a female child who becomes one's daughter through the new marital union of a parent, rather than by biological descent.
Analysis
- step: From Old English 'stēop-', meaning "related by remarriage of a parent," functioning as a prefix denoting a relationship through marriage. - daughter: From Old English 'dohtor', meaning "female child," functioning as the core noun.