English

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Etymology

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From old woman-ish.

Adjective

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old-womanish (comparative more old-womanish, superlative most old-womanish)

  1. Having the negative traits of a stereotypical elderly woman: peevish, superstitious, prim and proper, etc.
    • 1900, Mary Jane Holmes, Millbank; or Roger Irving's Ward, page 85:
      He did not say that he thought her position stiff, and her dress too old for her, though he had thought it, and smiled at the prim, old-womanish figure, sitting so erect in the high-backed chair.
    • 2001, Witness Lee, Life-Study of 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, page 73:
      If we would exercise ourselves unto godliness, we must refuse profane and old-womanish tales. Much of the teaching and preaching in Christianity today falls in the category of old-womanish tales.