beldam
英 ['beldəm]
美
英文词源
- beldam (n.)
- "aged woman," 1570s; earlier "grandmother" (mid-15c.), from dame (q.v.) in the sense of "mother" + bel-, Middle English prefix expressing relationship (as in belfader, belsire "grandfather"), from Old French bel, belle "beautiful, fair, fine" (see belle). This "direct relationship" sense of bel is not found in French, where the prefix is used to form words for in-laws.
英英释意
- 1. an ugly evil-looking old woman
- 2. a woman of advanced age
