bridesmaid
|brides/maid|
B2
/ˈbraɪdzˌmeɪd/
bride's attendant
Etymology
Etymology Information
'bridesmaid' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'bryd' meaning 'bride' and 'maid' meaning 'young woman or girl'.
Historical Evolution
'bryd' and 'maid' combined in Old English to form 'brydemaegden', which eventually became the modern English word 'bridesmaid'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to a young woman attending to a bride, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a woman who is an attendant of the bride at a wedding.
She asked her sister to be her bridesmaid.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45