Aunt
[ɑːnt] or [ænt]
Definition
(noun.) the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle.
Edited by Clare--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The sister of one's father or mother; -- correlative to nephew or niece. Also applied to an uncle's wife.
(n.) An old woman; and old gossip.
(n.) A bawd, or a prostitute.
Checker: Merle
Definition
n. a father's or a mother's sister—also the wife of one's uncle: (obs.) an old woman a gossip a procuress or bawd.—Aunt Sally a pastime at English fairs in which a wooden head is set on a pole and in the mouth a pipe which has to be smashed by throwing sticks or the like at it.
Editor: Moore
Unserious Contents or Definition
For a young woman to dream of seeing her aunt, denotes she will receive sharp censure for some action, which will cause her much distress. If this relative appears smiling and happy, slight difference will soon give way to pleasure.
Edited by Edward
Examples
- Give my love to your aunt, George dear, and implore her not to curse the viper that has crossed your path and blighted your existence. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- You and I shall quarrel, Naumann, if you call that lady my aunt again. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- They had told her that her aunt Shaw was coming; but she had not expressed either surprise or pleasure, or dislike to the idea. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- I want some money, you know, Aunt--some to buy little things for myself--and he doesn't give me any. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- I have never seen my aunt in such state. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Charlotte (the name of my false young friend) had gone down before me, and I heard this aunt speaking to her about me as I entered. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- She saw nothing more of her uncle, nor of her aunt Norris, till they met at dinner. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- Your knowledge of the world, dear aunt, is superior to mine, I suggested diffidently. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Do you mean Aunt March? Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Fanny had indeed nothing to convey from aunt Norris, but a message to say she hoped that her god-daughter was a good girl, and learnt her book. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be requited. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- I am to understand that you forbid me to tell my aunt what has happened? Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Aunt March likes to have us pay her the compliment of coming in style, and making a formal call. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- This being evidently the central point of the entertainment, Aunt Chloe began now to bustle about earnestly in the supper department. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The aunt was a young woman, and she had a serious way with her eyes of watching me. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Mrs. van der Luyden has driven over to see her old aunts at Rhinebeck and we shan't be missed at the house for another hour. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- Dora, clinging to them both, and weeping, exclaimed, 'O yes, aunts! Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- I was wonderfully relieved to find that my aunt and Dora's aunts rubbed on, all things considered, much more smoothly than I could have expected. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- She was not in the drawing-room when I presented Agnes to her little aunts, but was shyly keeping out of the way. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Sophy arrives at the house of Dora's aunts, in due course. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Oh--all my aunts? Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- My aunt made her promised visit within a few days of the conference; and within a few more days, Dora's aunts called upon her, in due state and form. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- DORA'S AUNTS At last, an answer came from the two old ladies. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Who are your uncles and aunts? Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- If I couldn't bear her, why didn't I send her away to her aunts at Putney, or to Julia Mills in India? Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Well, resumed Mr. Rochester, if you disown parents, you must have some sort of kinsfolk: uncles and aunts? Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- They little think how much it comes to, or what their parents, or their uncles and aunts, pay for them in the course of the year. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- We still talk about humanity as if it were some strange and mystical creature which could not possibly be composed of the grocer, the street-car conductor and our aunts. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- She was happy to see me so happy, and promised to call on Dora's aunts without loss of time. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
Edited by Glenn