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# widow

noun (a widow, widows); verb (be widowed)

«widow» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A widow is a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#m1)
2. In printing, a widow is a single short line left alone at the top of a page or column. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories, history and the Bible, widows are often poor or brave characters. In everyday life, people show kindness to widows and widowers. A man whose wife has died is a widower. A black widow is a kind of spider found in North America and Australia (redback is a relative), whose bite is dangerous. Phrases: «black widow», «was widowed».

### Examples

- After her husband died, she became a widow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x1)
- The widow lived alone in a little cottage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x2)
- Grandad is a widower, because Grandma died. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x3)
- She was widowed when she was young. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x4)
- In the story, the kind widow took in the orphan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x5)
- The black widow spider has a red mark on its body. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x6)
- We visit the widow next door and help with her shopping. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x7)
- The widow wore black at the funeral. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x8)
- "I don't mind!" says the widow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/#x9)

### Note

Countable: a widow, widows. The word for a man is «widower». «Widowed» is used for both: «She was widowed», «He was widowed». Do not confuse with «window». Safety: black widow and redback spiders can bite; never touch them.

## In Jewish tradition

A woman whose husband died, who had no protector, so the Torah repeatedly commands care for her.

**Interpretation.** Widows, orphans and strangers are the classic people the Torah says to protect, and tradition says God Himself defends them.

### Examples

- Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. (Torah EXO.22.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/widow/#x1)
- Cursed be he that perverteth the justice due to the stranger, fatherless, and widow. (Torah DEU.27.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/widow/#x2)
- He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. (Torah DEU.10.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/widow/#x3)
- How is she become as a widow! (Writings LAM.1.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/widow/#x4)
- Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. (Writings PSA.109.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/widow/#x5)
- They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. (Writings PSA.94.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/widow/#x6)

### Note

Countable: a widow, widows. The word for a man is «widower». «Widowed» is used for both: «She was widowed», «He was widowed». Do not confuse with «window». Safety: black widow and redback spiders can bite; never touch them.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «widow» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/widow/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«widow» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/widow.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «widow» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/widow/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«widow» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/widow.html) on Mova free.