different between godmother vs godfather

English

Etymology

From Middle English godmoder, from Old English godm?dor (“godmother”), equivalent to god +? mother. Cognate with Old High German gotmuoter (“godmother”), Old Norse guðmóðir (“godmother”), Icelandic guðmóður (“godmother”), Swedish gudmoder (“godmother”), Danish gudmor (“godmother”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???dm?ð?/
• Hyphenation: god?mother

Noun

godmother (plural godmothers)

1. A woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a female godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child.

Synonyms

• co-mother
• cummer

Hypernyms

• godparent

Hyponyms

• godchild
• goddaughter
• godson

Related terms

• godfather

Translations

Verb

godmother (third-person singular simple present godmothers, present participle godmothering, simple past and past participle godmothered)

1. (transitive) To act as godmother to.
   • 1909, H. G. Wells, Tono-Bungay

     The servants took to her – as they say – she godmothered three Susans during her rule, the coachman's, the gardener's and the Up Hill gamekeeper's.

References

• godmother on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Middle English

Noun

godmother

1. (Late Middle English) Alternative form of godmoder

English

Etymology

From Middle English godfader, from Old English godfæder (“godfather”), equivalent to god +? father. Cognate with Old Saxon godfadar (“godfather”), Middle Dutch godvader (“godfather”), Danish gudfader, gudfar (“godfather”), Swedish gudfader, gudfar (“godfather”), Icelandic guðfaðir (“godfather”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /???df?ð?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???df??ð?/
• Hyphenation: god?father

Noun

godfather (plural godfathers)

1. A man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a male godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child.
2. A small post which is used in repairing a fence. For instance attached to and supporting an existing broken fence post.
3. A mafia leader.

Hypernyms

• godparent

Hyponyms

• godchild
• goddaughter
• godson

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

godfather (third-person singular simple present godfathers, present participle godfathering, simple past and past participle godfathered)

1. (transitive, often figuratively) To act as godfather or guardian to.

Further reading

• godfather on Wikipedia.Wikipedia