great-grandmother

UK: ˌɡreɪt ˈɡrænmʌðə | US: ˌɡreɪt ˈɡrænmʌðər

Definition

  1. n. the mother of one’s grandparent; a grandmother of one’s parent.

Structure
great <large, extended>grand <older generation>mother <female parent>
Etymology

The word "great-grandmother" is a compound formed by combining "great" (indicating an additional generational layer), "grand" (denoting a familial hierarchy beyond immediate parents), and "mother" (the core term for a female parent). The prefix "great-" extends the generational scope, while "grand-" was historically used in Old French (grant) and Latin (grandis) to signify importance or seniority. The term reflects a logical, additive structure common in English kinship terminology.

Examples

  1. My great-grandmother immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s.

  2. She keeps a photo of her great-grandmother on the mantelpiece.

  3. Stories about my great-grandmother’s childhood fascinate me.

  4. We visited my great-grandmother’s hometown last summer.

  5. Her great-grandmother lived to be 102 years old.