Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 (WS.) ealdmódor, 3–6 eldmoder, 5–9 elmother, 6– eldmother. [OE. (WS.) ealdmódor, f. eald, ELD a., OLD + MOTHER. Cf. OFris. aldmóder, aldemóder; and see ELDFATHER.]

1

  1.  A grandmother.

2

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 173. Auia, ealde modor.

3

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1189. Abel … had his eldmoder maiden-hede.

4

c. 1425.  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 672. Hec auia, eldmoder.

5

  2.  a. A mother-in-law. b. A stepmother.

6

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 137. Eld modyr [K. elmoder], socrus.

7

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, II. ix. (viii.) 112. Eldmoder to ane hundreth thair saw I Hecuba.

8

1519.  Will of R. Payne (Somerset Ho.). To Margaret Shelle myne Elmother, a melche neete.

9

1571.  Wills & Inv. N. C. (1835), I. 352. I gyue vnto my eldmother his wyffe my wyffes froke.

10

1674.  Ray, N. C. Words., 16. An El mother. Cumb. A step mother.

11

1864.  Whitby Gloss., Elmother, step-mother.

12