old-maidismn.
/ˌəʊl(d)ˈmeɪdɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌoʊl(d)ˈmeɪdɪz(ə)m/ = old-maidishness n. Also: = old-maidhood n.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > unmarried person(s) > unmarried woman > [noun] > elderly > characteristics of
old-maidism1776
old-maidishness1796
old-maidery1804
1776 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1862) 2nd Ser. II. 193 To come to the letter so strongly tinctured with old maidism.
1830 C. M. Sedgwick Clarence I. xv. 276 On the very verge of the frigid zone of old maidism as I am, there is nothing I so truly sympathize with as a youthful, reckless, true love.
1893 Temple Bar 98 539 He is faddy, almost to the point of old-maidism.
1925 E. M. Forster in New Republic 16 Dec. 107/1 Who can get any conception of..old-maidism triumphant and militant.
2002 Australian (Nexis) 26 Apr. 9 All of this is motivated by a fear of old maidism, as old hat as patriarchy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1776