half-mourning

9.9

A period after the first strict time after a death when people wear lighter clothes and follow fewer rules

noun
/hæfˈmɔrnɪŋ/

Archaic

: medio luto

She entered a period of half-mourning a few months after her husband's funeral.

Examples

During the Victorian era, half-mourning was marked by wearing gray or lavender instead of black.
At the tea party, several widows were dressed in half-mourning attire.
She wore a half-mourning dress to the memorial service.
After the funeral, they entered a period of half-mourning.
During the half-mourning period, she wore a black dress with subtle gray accents instead of all black.
After the funeral, the family entered half-mourning, wearing lighter colors to reflect their gradual healing.
As part of the half-mourning customs, he chose to wear a dark suit instead of the full black attire.

How Mournful

mourning

8 3.9

half-mourning

Archaic

9.9

Surface Forms

half-mourning singular

half-mournings plural

Morphology

half-mourning = half + mourning (transparent) = half + mourning

A direct combination of 'half' (partial) and 'mourning' (period/customs of grief), so learners who know both parts can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Half-mourning comes from the two parts half (meaning 'part') and mourning (meaning 'grief'). So, half-mourning is the later, partial period of grieving when people wear lighter clothes and follow fewer strict rules than in full mourning.