Cindy from Henderson, Kentucky, enjoys a wonderful relationship with her ex-husband’s new wife, and she’s looking for a word to indicate their special connection. The sister of your husband is your sister-in-law, of course, but what’s a good word for the spouse of your ex? She’s considered the term sister-out-law, but that doesn’t feel right. We’ve discussed this question before, and listeners suggested ex-in-law or wife-in-law or step-wife. Others define the person in relation to their children, as in my son’s stepmother. We’re turning on the siren, putting the cherries and berries on the roof, and calling out for more suggestions! Have a better word for the new partner of your former spouse? Tell us!This is part of a complete episode.
Susie Dent’s murder mystery Guilty by Definition (Bookshop|Amazon) follows a lexicographer in Oxford who becomes a sleuth of a different kind, seeking the culprit in a long-unsolved killing. A lexicographer herself, Dent includes lots of obscure and...
Mona from Riverview, Florida, grew up understanding that the word schmooze, which comes from Yiddish, meant simply “to mingle and chat” at parties, but when she fondly referred to her friend as a schmoozer, the friend was insulted, assuming that a...
