belle-mère

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French belle-mere, belle-mère. By surface analysis, belle- +‎ mère.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bɛl.mɛʁ/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio (France (Paris)):(file)
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Noun

belle-mère f (plural belles-mères)

  1. mother-in-law
  2. stepmother
    Synonym: (dated) marâtre
    Antonym: (dated) parâtre
  3. (Quebec, politics, derogatory) a retired politician (male or female) who tries to keep influencing their successors through public or behind-the-scenes interventions

Coordinate terms

Descendants

  • Haitian Creole: bèlmè

Further reading

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