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Glite Dictionary
beadswoman

beadswoman

9.9
An older woman who people pay to pray for a dead person's soul using prayer beads
  • noun
  • /ˈbēdzˌwo͞omən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : mujer de oraciones
  • The wealthy lord left money to a beadswoman who was to pray for his soul each day.

Examples

  • In medieval England, families sometimes employed a beadswoman after a loved one's death.

  • A solitary beadswoman could be seen in the church, her lips moving silently in prayer.

  • The beadswoman prayed silently for the departed.

  • Many families hired a beadswoman during times of grief.

  • In medieval England, families sometimes employed a beadswoman after a loved one's death.

  • The wealthy lord left money to a beadswoman who was to pray for his soul each day.

  • Many families hired a beadswoman during times of grief.

Synonyms

bedeswoman
vsbeadswoman
  • Archaic
9.9

A woman paid or supported to pray for another person's soul, often in the Middle Ages

is used more generally and not restricted to medieval practice

Surface Forms

beadswoman singular
beadswomen plural

Morphology

beadswoman = bead + woman (transparent) = beads + woman

The compound 'beads' + 'woman' directly denotes a woman associated with beads/prayer counting, so the meaning is clear from its parts.

Etymology

Beadswoman comes from beads (an old word for 'prayer') and woman. Picture a woman holding prayer beads and counting prayers for someone's 'soul', which is why a beadswoman was paid to pray for a person.