Mother-in-law

Mother-in-law

A person's mother-in-law is the mother of his or her spouse. A person is a son-in-law or daughter-in-law to the mother-in-law. She and the father-in-law are the parents of the spouse and, in a nuclear family, of the sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Together the members of this family affinity group are called the in-laws.

In comedies, the mother-in-law is sometimes shown as the bane of the husband, who is married to the mother-in-law's daughter. Mothers-in-law are often stereotyped in mother-in-law jokes.

Some Australian Aboriginal languages use avoidance speech, so-called "mother-in-law languages", special sub-languages used when in hearing distance of taboo relatives, most commonly the mother-in-law.

A "Mother-in-law suite" is also a type of dwelling, usually guest accommodations within a family home that may be used for members of the extended family.

ee also

* affinity (law)


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  • mother-in-law — (n.) mid 15c., mother of one s spouse, from MOTHER (Cf. mother) (n.1) + IN LAW (Cf. in law). Also in early use, stepmother. In British slang c.1884, mother in law was a mixture of ales old and bitter …   Etymology dictionary

  • Mother-in-law — Moth er in law , n. The mother of one s husband or wife. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mother-in-law — mother in .law plural mothers in law n the mother of your wife or husband …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • mother-in-law — mother in ,law (plural mothers in ,law) noun count the mother of your husband or wife …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • mother-in-law — means one s wife s or husband s mother. The plural is mothers in law …   Modern English usage

  • mother-in-law — ► NOUN (pl. mothers in law) ▪ the mother of one s husband or wife …   English terms dictionary

  • mother-in-law — [muth′ərin lô΄] n. pl. mothers in law the mother of one s husband or wife …   English World dictionary

  • mother-in-law —    This term is rarely used, perhaps because of its unwieldy length. Mothersin law are accorded different terms of address according to individual family circumstances and wishes. A considerable age difference may make the use of a first name… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • mother out-law — n. The mother of a person s former spouse (cf. mother in law). Example Citation: Scotland s weirdest wedding has been banned at the last minute. Pat Smith, 44, had been due to marry her toyboy lover George Greenhowe, 22, today. And George s ex… …   New words

  • mother-in-law — noun /ˈmʌð.ə(ɹ).ɪnˌlɔː/ a) One’s spouse’s mother. b) A mother in law apartment. See Also: brother in law, daughter in law, father in law, sister in law, son in l …   Wiktionary

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