viduityn.
/vɪˈdjuːɪti/ The state of being or remaining a widow; the time during which a woman is a widow; widowhood.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > widow or widower > [noun] > widow > condition of
widowhoodOE
widowhead1381
viduity1420
widowityc1456
widow state1742
viduage1894
1420 Indenture in J. Campbell Balmerino iv. i. (1867) 258 The said Sir Williame is oblist that he sal nocht trete the forsaid [Alesoun ?] of Murray..noither in virginite na viduite, til [alienate ?] ony parte of hir heritage fra the richtwiss airis.
1574 Waterford Arch. in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 334 Every widowe shoulde have like benefitt..during her viduite... Aldermen's widowes shall have but a balives shift during their viduite.
1575 in Agnew Sheriffs Galloway (1893) I. 404 Patrick McKie..shall infeft..Katheren Agnew..in her viduity in all and haill the lands of Larg.
1620 Bp. J. Hall Honor Married Clergie i. vi. 30 As for that other, which he imagines, a Vow of continued Viduitie, it was neither Faith nor First.
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (Cor.) 79 Yet doth not the apostle simply prefer virginity or viduity before marriage as better.
a1726 G. Gilbert Law Evidence (1791) 497 If a Woman, who has an Estate during Viduity, makes a Lease for Years [etc.].
1729 in W. Macfarlane Geneal. Coll. (1900) (Sc. Hist. Soc.) II. 101 Indenture betwixt Marion Oliphant in her Viduity on the One Part and Pat. Gray of Broxmouth on the other Part.
a1856 G. Outram Lyrics, Legal & Misc. (1874) 27 There I met a waesome wife Lamenting her viduity.
1896 Abst. Protocols Town Clerks of Glasgow (1896) III. 9 (note) Widows of rentallers in the barony were entitled to enjoy their husbands' lands during viduity.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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