women-only
Meaning
Restricted to or intended for women only.
Structure
Usage
The gym has introduced a women-only swimming session on Tuesday evenings.
It was a women-only event, so no male guests were allowed.
The club's policy is women-only after 8 PM on weekends.
Etymology
The compound "women-only" is a modern English formation, combining the plural noun "women" with the adjective "only". The word "woman" itself has a rich history, originating from Old English 'wīfmann', a compound meaning "female human". Over time, 'wīfmann' evolved phonetically into "woman", with "women" as its irregular plural. The element "only" traces back to Old English 'ānlīc', meaning "unique, solitary", from the root 'ān' (one). When combined, these morphemes create a transparent, descriptive term where "women" specifies the permitted group and "only" imposes the restriction of exclusivity. This logical construction follows a common English pattern for creating compound adjectives that define access or membership, such as "members-only" or "adults-only".
Analysis
- women: From Old English 'wīfmann' (woman), where 'wīf' meant "female, woman" and 'mann' meant "human being, person". In this compound, it functions as the plural noun specifying the group. - only: From Old English 'ānlīc' (one-like, solitary), derived from 'ān' (one). In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning "exclusive, solely for".