son-in-law
(ˈsʌnɪnlɔː)
[son n.1 and law n.1 3 c.]
1. A daughter's husband. Also † son in the law, son by law. (Cf. son-law.)
| α 13.. Cursor M. 7650 (Gött.), Dauid his sone-in-law for to sla. 1375 Barbour Bruce xvii. 219 Valter, Steward of Scotland, That..sone-in-law wes to the king. c 1425 Eng. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 672 Hic gener, sone-in-law. 1530 Palsgr. 272/2 Sonne in lawe, gendre. 1573 Will T. Daye (Somerset Ho.), My son in lawe Robert Dobledaie. 1600 Pory tr. Leo's Africa iii. 144 The brides father..sendes great store of daintie dishes vnto his sonne in law. 1639 Bury Wills (Camden) 180, I give unto my sonne-in-law..my second best gown. 1700 Evelyn Diary 13 Feb., She left my son-in-law..the mansion house of Adscomb. 1743 Francis tr. Horace, Odes ii. iv. 16 Her Parents..Shall not their Son-in-law disgrace. 1811 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) I. v. 147 How should you like him for a son-in-law? 1813 Southey Nelson I. 87 Josiah, his son-in-law, went with him. |
| β 1545 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 12 Johne Buchquhannane son in the law to the said Lord Johne Levingstoun. [1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 54 Soon to king Priamus by law.] |
† 2. ? A reputed son.
Obs.| 1591 Lodge Catharos B 4 b, How doth the father of your sonne in law? |
† 3. A stepson.
Obs.| 1618 Bolton Florus iv. xii. (1636) 318 Cæsar throughly quietted all the nations of that tract..by his sonne in law whose mother hee had married, Claudius Drusus. 1731 Fielding Mod. Husb. ii. iii, I hope you will pardon an intercession, my dear, for a son-in-law, which I should not be guilty for a son of my own. 1738 tr. Guazzo's Art Convers. 21 The step-mother..can't discern the good qualities of her son-in-law. |
Hence
son-in-lawship.
| 1886 Hardy Woodlanders (1887) II. ix. 163 It immersed him so deeply in son-in-lawship to Melbury. |