Widow

Wid′ow (wĭd′ō), n. [OE. widewe, widwe, AS. weoduwe, widuwe, wuduwe; akin to OFries. widwe, OS. widowa, D. weduwe, G. wittwe, witwe, OHG. wituwa, witawa, Goth. widuwō, Russ. udova, OIr. fedb, W. gweddw, L. vidua, Skr. vidhavā; and probably to Skr. vidh to be empty, to lack; cf. Gr. ἠίθεος a bachelor. √284. Cf. Vidual.] A woman who has lost her husband by death, and has not married again; one living bereaved of a husband. "A poor widow." Chaucer.

Grass widow. See under Grass. — Widow bewitched, a woman separated from her husband; a grass widow. [Colloq.] — Widow-in-mourning (Zoöl.), the macavahu. — Widow monkey (Zoöl.), a small South American monkey (Callithrix lugens); — so called on account of its color, which is black except the dull whitish arms, neck, and face, and a ring of pure white around the face. — Widow's chamber (Eng. Law), in London, the apparel and furniture of the bedchamber of the widow of a freeman, to which she was formerly entitled.

Wid′ow, a. Widowed. "A widow woman." 1 Kings xvii. 9. "This widow lady." Shak.

Wid′ow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Widowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Widowing.]

1. To reduce to the condition of a widow; to bereave of a husband; — rarely used except in the past participle.

Though in thus city he Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury. Shak.

2. To deprive of one who is loved; to strip of anything beloved or highly esteemed; to make desolate or bare; to bereave.

The widowed isle, in mourning, Dries up her tears. Dryden.

Tress of their shriveled fruits Are widowed, dreary storms o'er all prevail. J. Philips.

Mourn, widowed queen; forgotten Sion, mourn. Heber.

3. To endow with a widow's right. [R.] Shak.

4. To become, or survive as, the widow of. [Obs.]

Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all. Shak.