WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Wid"ow
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. widewe, widwe, AS. weoduwe, widuwe, wuduwe; akin to OFries. widwe, OS. widowa, D. weduwe, G. wittwe, witwe, OHG. wituwa, witawa, Goth. widuw, Russ. udova, OIr. fedb, W. gweddw, L. vidua, Skr. vidhava; and probably to Skr. vidh to be empty, to lack; c
Definition : Defn: 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 (Zo?l.), the macavahu. -- Widow monkey (Zo?l.), 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Wid"ow
Part of Speech : a.
Definition : Defn: Widowed. "A widow woman." 1 Kings xvii. 9. "This widow lady." Shak.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Wid"ow
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : 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.

t. [imp. & p. p. Widowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Widowing.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913