stepchild

English

Etymology

From Middle English stepchild, stepchyld, from Old English stēopċild (“stepchild”), equivalent to step- +‎ child. Compare Dutch stiefkind (“stepchild”), German Stiefkind (“stepchild”), Swedish styvbarn (“stepchild”).

Pronunciation
  • Hyphenation: step‧child

Noun

stepchild (plural stepchildren)

  1. The child of one's spouse but not one's own.
  2. (obsolete) A bereaved child; one who has lost father or mother.

Synonyms
  • (child of one's spouse but not one's own): stepbairn (Britain dialectal, chiefly Scotland), stepkid (informal), step (colloquial)
  • (bereaved child): orphan

Antonyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations
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See also

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English stēopċild (“stepchild”); equivalent to step- +‎ child.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈstɛpˌt͡ʃiːld/

Noun

stepchild (plural stepchildren or stepchildre)

  1. stepchild (child of a spouse)
  2. (rare) orphan

Descendants
  • English: stepchild

References
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