Also 5 fadyr in, yn, lawe, faderlaw, 6 fatherlaw. [App. in law = in Canon law. Cf. BROTHER-IN-LAW.]

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  1.  The father of one’s husband or wife.

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c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2272, Philomene. Vn-to his fadyr in lawe gan he preye.

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1467.  Mann. & Househ. Exp., 172. John Hobes and is faderlaw.

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a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxiv. 221. Gerard … called to hym his father in law, his wyfes father.

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1598.  Chapman, Iliad, III. 187.

        The fairest of her sex replied: ‘Most reverend father-in-law,
Most loved, most fear’d.’

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a. 1704.  T. Brown, Eng. Sat., Wks. 1730, I. 25. That Poet exerted the vigour of Satire, and pointed his verses with revenge and wit; his ungenerous Father-in-law, asham’d to be expos’d for actions that render’d him unworthy Life, discreetly hang’d himself, and by that means found a sure retreat from the just resentments of his angry Son-in-law.

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1843.  Bethune, Sc. Fireside Stor., 51. As I am a good Christian man, and neither a Mahometan, nor a Jew, I declare we are before the door of your intended father-in-law, and in no other part of the world.

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  fig.  1650.  Ward, Discolliminium, 15. Ignorance is the Grand-mother of mistaken Necessity; pretended Necessity, the Father-in-law of intended iniquity; and that a præterpluparentheticall head hath seldome a clear and orderly judgement.

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  2.  = STEPFATHER. Now commonly regarded as a misuse.

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1552.  Huloet, Father in lawe, vitricus.

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1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. iii. 81.

          Richm.  All comfort that the darke night can affoord,
Be to thy Person, Noble Father in Law.

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1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., III. vi. (1622), 72. A lighter band of alliance, held to bee betwixt the father in law, and his wiues children.

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1748.  Richardson, Clarissa, IV. xxiii. 122. Nancy could not bear a father-in-law.

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1773.  Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., I. ii. Father-in-law has been calling me a whelp and hound.

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1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., iv. I am not their father, I’m only their father-in-law.

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1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. lvi. 149–50. I did not like my father-in-law to come home.

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  Hence Father-in-law v. nonce-wd., to call (a man) father-in-law.

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1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XV. v. I’ll teach you to father-in-law me.

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