woman

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a human female employed to do housework

   We hired a new woman last week.

2. 2
   noun

   women as a class

   That is an insult to all women.

3. 3
   noun

   an adult female human

   Your friend played soccer well.

4. 4
   noun

   a female person who plays a significant role, such as a wife or mistress or girlfriend, in the life of a particular person

   They were faithful to their woman.

5. 5
   noun

   An adult female human.

   the first woman president of Spain

6. 6
   noun

   All female humans collectively; womankind.

   Listen, Holly. Thou art a good and honest man, and I fain would spare thee; but, oh! it is so hard for woman to be merciful.

7. 7
   noun

   A female person, usually an adult: a (generally adult) female sentient being, whether human, supernatural, elf, alien, etc.

   Sir, have you ever served with any Bajoran women?

8. 8
   noun

   A wife (or sometimes a fiancée or girlfriend).

   And then, when he lies with his woman, the man may concurrently be with God, and so get increase of his soul.

Etymology

From Middle English womman, from earlier wimman, wifman, from Old English wīfmann (“woman”, literally “female person”), a compound of wīf (“woman, female”, whence English wife) + mann (“person, human being”, whence English man). For details on the pronunciation and spelling history, see the usage notes below. Cognate with Scots woman, weman (“woman”), Saterland Frisian Wieuwmoanske (“female person, female human, woman”). Similar constructions can be found in West Frisian frommes (“woman, girl”) (from frou and minske, literally "woman human"). Further information on vocalic development The curr…