| 释义 |
ˈhouse-mother
[Cf. Ger. hausmutter.]
The mother of a household or family; the female head of a community living together as a family. Also in extended uses.
1834Caryle Sart. Res. ii. i, in Fraser's Mag. Feb. 177/2 The good Gretchen..hovered round him, as only a true housemother can: assiduously she cooked and sewed and scoured for him. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. vii. iii, Men know not what the pantry is, when it grows empty; only house-mothers know. 1860Thackeray Round. Papers xviii. (D.), The house-mother comes down to her family with a sad face. 1882Standard 16 Nov. 1/6 The Managers require a..woman to take charge of and act as House-Mother of a House containing from 20 to 25 Girls and Infants, at their Separate Home School. 1936Variety 8 July 46/1 The cynical college man who dominates his fair-haired pal, the prim house mother—they're all here and more. 1959Tablet 7 Mar. 240/1 Resident Roman Catholic Housemother required to act as Deputy to Housemother-in-charge. 1970Observer 25 Jan. 6/5 The house mother—a woman who calls daily to look after a family in their own home. 1971‘M. Innes’ Awkward Lie iv. 71 Calling young women house-mothers must be one of Overbury [School]'s notably few concessions to the march of time.
Hence ˈhouse-ˌmotherly a., belonging to or characteristic of a house-mother.
1880R. Broughton Sec. Th. i. i, Gillian, wrapping..with house-motherly care, a woolly shawl round..Emilia. |