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The noun 'spinster' is a word for a woman who is past a child bearing age but has never married.
The term stems from an era when most females were not educated and if not married became a dependent in the household of a family member. One of the jobs frequently assigned to an adult dependent family member (everyone had to earn their keep) was spinning wool and thread, literally the family spinster.
This may lead you to believe that the opposite of spinster would be bachelor, a male who has never married. That is not correct because an unmarried man of any age is not past an age for (the expectation of) siring children. Due to the gender disparity for most of society at the time the word 'spinster' was commonly used, no corresponding noun for a male was used.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoDepends on what you are using the word for.
The term spinster originally identified girls and women who spun wool; and though this job was rare for a male there were occasional young boys or elderly men who would also perform this task. If used as a term for a person who spins wool than spinster would be both male and female. This would be a very archaic use of the word.
In medieval times, this was one of the few livelihoods available to a woman in order to live independently of a male wage.
During the Elizabethan era, spinster came to indicate a woman or girl of marriageable age who was unwilling or unable to marry and was used as a taunt to embarrass a women who had not yet married.
Eventually a spinster became a legal term for an unmarried woman, aged 38 or over.
The term dates back to a time period when it was considered bad for a woman to be unwed at such an old age.
There is no male version for this term in reference to an unmarried man. The closest word would simply be "bachelor".
Historically women have always been pushed towards marriage by society at a younger age than men and thus a women may be labeled a spinster for behavior that avoids marriage, where as a man is not penalized for the same behavior with a change in slang labels.
ds-mordenlower home5
bachelor
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What is the male for spinster?
The male counterpart of spinster is bachelor.
What do we call a male of a spinster?
An unmarried male is a bachelor.An unmarried female is a spinster.
Is spinster male or female?
A spinster is an unmarried woman beyond usual marrying age
What is the feminine of bachelor?
In English there are no masculine or feminine forms. English uses gender specific nouns for a male or a female.The gender specific noun for a male is a bachelor.The noun 'spinster' is a gender specific noun for a female who is past a child bearing age but has never married.The noun 'bachelor' is the noun used for an unmarried, adult male of any age. However, at the time the word 'spinster' was commonly used, no corresponding noun for a male was used because an unmarried man of any age is not past an age for (the expectation of) siring children.Old timers will speak of a 'bachelor lady.' The word bachelorette is a more recent addition to popular culture, because the word spinster has such negative connotations.
What is the name of a unmarried person?
Male: BachelorFemale: Spinster, Bachelorette (US).
What do you call someone who is unmarried for life?
spinster (female) or bachelor (male)
What is an old witch called?
Mom No, seriously hag, crone, spinster.
What do you call someone who isn't married?
Unmarried male is a Batchelor, while a female is a Spinster.
What is the feminine of spinster?
In English there are no masculine or feminine forms. English uses gender specific nouns for male or female.The noun 'spinster' is an obsolete word for a female who has never married. The noun 'spinster' is a gender specific noun for a female.The noun 'spinster' is a gender specific noun for a female who is past a child bearing age but has never married.The noun 'bachelor' is the noun used for an unmarried, adult male of any age, however, at the time the word 'spinster' was commonly used, no corresponding noun for a male was used because an unmarried man of any age is not past an age for (the expectation of) siring children.
What is a sentence using the word spinster?
Spinster is a mostly obsolete word for a woman who never married. Unmarried men are called bachelors.The older sister was the only spinster in her family of seven sisters.
What is negative connotation of spinster?
The negative connotation of spinster refers to an unmarried woman who is considered past the typical age for marriage and is sometimes perceived as undesirable or pitiable due to societal expectations and stereotypes.
What is a woman who has never married called?
That woman is called unmarried or single.
