Historical Gender Roles

1 words in this vocabulary list

noun a woman who has never been married and is considered to be past the usual age for marrying

adjective referring to a woman who has never been married and is considered to be past the usual age for marrying

  • In the 19th century, being an old maid was often seen as a social stigma.
  • My great aunt never married and some people jokingly call her the old maid of the family.
  • She's been single for so long, her friends tease her and call her the old maid of the group.
  • The old maid in the deck of cards represents an unmarried woman who is considered past her prime.