different between grandmother vs grandam

English

Etymology

From Middle English graundmodre, grauntmoder, granmoder; equivalent to grand- +? mother. Compare French grand-mère. Superseded earlier eldmother, eldermother.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???æn(d)?m?ð?(r)/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???æn?m?ð?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???æn(d)?m?ð?/
• Hyphenation: grand?mo?ther

Noun

grandmother (plural grandmothers)

1. A mother of someone's parent.
2. A female ancestor or progenitor.

Synonyms

• (mother of someone's parent): See Thesaurus:grandmother

Antonyms

• (with regard to gender): grandfather
• (with regard to ancestry): granddaughter, grandson, grandchild

Hypernyms

• grandparent

Hyponyms

• maternal grandmother
• paternal grandmother

Derived terms

Related terms

• great-grandfather

Translations

Many languages use different terms for the mother of someone's father and the mother of someone's mother. When such a distinction is required in English, the phrases maternal grandmother (“mother of one's mother”) and paternal grandmother (“mother of one's father”) can be used. Specific translations can be added at those entries.

English

Alternative forms

• grandame
• granddam

Etymology

Borrowed from French grand dame. Doublet of grande dame.

Noun

grandam (plural grandams)

1. grandmother
2. old lady, elderly woman

Anagrams

• Grandma, dragman, grandma