mothers-in-law
Wedding-gained maternal figures
Mothers-in-law is the plural of mother-in-law—the mother of one's spouse.
The hyphenated compound takes its plural on the noun rather than the suffix: mothers-in-law, not mother-in-laws, though the latter appears in casual speech.
Both mothers-in-law came to the wedding.
Relatives beyond parents, siblings
- in-lawsRelatives through marriage
- relativesThose connected by blood
- family relationsConnections among relatives
- wedding guestsThose attending a marriage ceremony
marriage ties · family gatherings · family dynamics · blended family · stepfamily · family tree · generational · household
Prone to interfering
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- intrusiveInvading others' privacy
interfering · opinionated · domineering · nagging · disapproving · controlling · cliché · unsolicited advice
Senior figure of authority
- authority figurePerson wielding official power
- doyenneSenior female authority
- matronFemale institutional supervisor
- respectedHeld in high regard
venerable · influential · guiding · wise · experienced · caretaker · advice-giver · family traditions
Family-selected spousal pairing
- joint familyRelatives cohabiting across generations
- multigenerational homeDwelling housing multiple age groups
- filial pietyRespect owed to parents
- gift-giving traditionsRitualized exchange of presents
extended family
Relatives beyond parents, siblings
- in-lawsRelatives through marriage
- relativesThose connected by blood
- family relationsConnections among relatives
marriage ties · wedding guests · family gatherings · family dynamics · blended family · stepfamily · family tree · generational · household · family bonds
meddlesome
Prone to interfering
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
intrusive · interfering · opinionated · domineering · nagging · disapproving · controlling · cliché · unsolicited advice
elder
Senior figure of authority
- authority figurePerson wielding official power
- doyenneSenior female authority
- matronFemale institutional supervisor
respected · venerable · influential · guiding · wise · experienced · caretaker · advice-giver · family traditions · storyteller
arranged marriage
Family-selected spousal pairing
- joint familyRelatives cohabiting across generations
- multigenerational homeDwelling housing multiple age groups
- filial pietyRespect owed to parents
gift-giving traditions · wedding rituals · family honor · blessing
mothers-in-lawbiological mothers
Women who gave birth
birth mothers · blood relatives · adoptive mothers · mothers · blood kin
mother, maternal, grandmother, motherly, motherhood, mothering, maternity, stepmother, mothered