ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stepson

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈstɛpˌsən// UK //stˈɛpsən// step·son

n. the son of your husband or wife's former partner. You use this word to describe the relationship between a person and their partner's child from a previous marriage.

n. the son of one's spouse's former partner. Refers to the legal and social relationship between a person and their partner's child from a previous union.


SIMPLE

He has a stepson who lives in another city.

COMPLEX

The legal process of establishing a stepson's inheritance rights can be complex, especially if the biological parent has already made a will that excludes the new family.

Origin

From Middle English stepsone, stepsune, from Old English stēopsunu (“stepson”), from Proto-Germanic *steupasunuz (“stepson”), equivalent to step- + son. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stäifsuun (“stepson”), West Frisian styfsoan (“stepson”), Dutch stiefzoon (“stepson”), German Low German Steevsöhn (“stepson”), German Stiefsohn (“stepson”), Danish stedsøn (“stepson”), Swedish styvson (“stepson”), Icelandic stjúpsonur (“stepson”).

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