stepsister
Meaning
A daughter of one's stepfather or stepmother from a previous relationship.
Structure
Usage
My stepsister and I didn't grow up together, but we've become close as adults.
In the fairy tale, Cinderella is mistreated by her stepsisters.
He introduced me to his stepsister from his father's second marriage.
Etymology
The word "stepsister" is a transparent compound from Old English, combining the prefix stēop- with the noun sweostor (sister). The Old English stēop- carried the specific meaning of "bereaved" or "orphaned," originally describing the relationship created when a widowed parent remarried, often implying the stepchild had lost a parent. Over time, the term broadened to encompass any familial relationship formed through remarriage, regardless of bereavement. Thus, "stepsister" logically denotes a female sibling acquired through the legal union of one's parent with a new spouse who has children from a prior relationship.
Analysis
step: From Old English stēop-, meaning "related by remarriage following the death of a parent." It functions as a prefix denoting a relationship resulting from a parent's subsequent marriage. sister: From Old English sweostor, meaning "female sibling." It functions as the core noun denoting the familial relationship.