daughter
daughter
Pronunciation
/ˈdɔːtər/.
First Syllable: /dɔː/
/d/: Voiced alveolar plosive
/ɔː/: Open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "thought")
Second Syllable: /tər/
/t/: Voiceless alveolar plosive
/ər/: R-colored schwa (as in "teacher" or "butter")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: daughter
Plural Noun: daughters
Beyond these, there are several derived forms and related terms:
Nouns:
daughterhood: The state or condition of being a daughter.
daughter-in-law: The wife of one's son.
daughter cell: (Biology) A cell produced by the division of another cell.
daughter nuclide/isotope: (Physics) A nuclide formed from another nuclide by radioactive decay.
granddaughter: The daughter of one's son or daughter.
great-granddaughter: The daughter of one's granddaughter or grandson.
stepdaughter: The daughter of one's spouse from a previous relationship.
foster daughter: A girl who is brought up by someone who is not her biological parent, usually for a period of time.
Adjectives:
daughterless: Without a daughter.
daughterlike: Resembling a daughter.
daughterly: Characteristic of or appropriate to a daughter.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. A female human being in relation to her parents.
Definition: An individual who is the direct female offspring of one or both parents. This definition emphasizes the biological or adoptive relationship where the individual is a child and specifically female.
Synonyms: girl, female child, offspring (gender-neutral), scion (often used for descendants in a lineage, more formal).
Antonyms: son, parent (in a general sense).
2. A female descendant or a young woman considered as a member of a family, group, or nation.
Definition: This broader definition extends the concept beyond immediate parentage to encompass a female descendant in a family line, or a woman regarded as having a close, often protective or nurturing, relationship with a larger entity (like a country or an institution). It can also be used affectionately for a young woman.
Synonyms: descendant, female heir, offspring, ward (in the sense of someone under protection), lass (informal, often affectionate).
Antonyms: ancestor, matriarch/patriarch (in the sense of the head of a family/group).
3. (Figurative/Specialized) A thing or concept that is derived or originates from another.
Definition: In a metaphorical or specialized context, "daughter" can refer to something that is a direct product or outgrowth of something else, often implying a close resemblance or continuation.
Synonyms: derivative, offshoot, byproduct, spin-off, outgrowth, result.
Antonyms: source, origin, parent (in the figurative sense), precursor, progenitor.
Examples of Use
In Books:
Literary Fiction: "He had watched his daughter, a fierce and independent spirit, grow into a woman who defied expectations." (Fictitious example, inspired by common literary themes of character development.)
Mystery/Thriller: Josephine Tey's classic detective novel, The Daughter of Time, published in 1951, centers on an ailing detective who investigates the historical mystery of Richard III and the fate of the Princes in the Tower. (Josephine Tey, The Daughter of Time, 1951)
Contemporary Fiction: "The President's Daughter" by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, a political thriller, features the kidnapping of a former U.S. president's adult daughter. (Bill Clinton & James Patterson, The President's Daughter, June 2021)
In Newspapers:
News Report: "A hospital employee did not observe minimum necessary requirements when she left a telephone message with the daughter of a patient that detailed both her medical condition and treatment plan." ("All Case Examples," HHS.gov)
Historical Context: "The press took notice of the wedding because the new Mrs. Warren was the daughter of Thomas F. Bayard, a United States Senator from Delaware and former candidate for President..." ("What if Samuel D. Warren hadn't Married a Senator's Daughter," BrooklynWorks, undated)
In Online Publications:
Parenting Advice: "Help your daughter prepare for getting a job of the future. STEM careers pay well and can help make the world a better place. But not enough women are in these fields." ("How to help your teenage daughter succeed," UNICEF East Asia and Pacific)
Opinion Piece: "For her entire life, I'd encouraged my daughter to explore computer programming. I told her about the cool projects, the amazing career potential..." ("To my daughter's high school programming teacher," USENIX)
In Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: The drama film My Sister's Keeper (2009) tells the story of a young daughter who sues her parents for medical emancipation after being conceived to be a donor for her older sister. (Nick Cassavetes, My Sister's Keeper)
Music: Pearl Jam's song "Daughter," released in December 1993, explores themes of a child's struggle for acceptance and understanding from her parents. (Pearl Jam, "Daughter,")
Television Series: "In the latest episode, the detective interviewed the estranged daughter of the victim, hoping to uncover new clues." (Fictitious example, representative of police procedural dramas.)
Social Media: A user posts a photo with the caption, "Proud dad moments with my amazing daughter at her graduation today!" (Common usage on platforms like Instagram, Facebook.)
Video Games: "In the game's narrative, the protagonist embarks on a perilous quest to rescue his daughter from a formidable adversary." (Fictitious example, typical of adventure or RPG game plots.)
In General Public Discourse:
Personal Anecdote: "My daughter just started kindergarten, and it's incredible how much she's learning already."
Political Commentary: "The former president's daughter has been increasingly active in social justice advocacy." (Times of India, "Obama's daughter accused of copying indie creator's short film,")
Social Commentary: "The article 'Our Daughters, Ourselves' highlighted the pervasive sexism faced by young women in society." ("Our Daughters, Ourselves," Globe and Mail)
Family Discussion: "We're planning a trip to the coast, and my daughters are really excited about it."
10 Quotes Using Daughter
"A daughter is a gift of love." (Author unknown, often attributed as a common saying)
"What I'm doing is the Lord's work, and my daughter is the Lord's daughter." (Malala Yousafzai, I Am Malala)
"I'm a strong woman because a strong woman raised me. My mother was my greatest inspiration, and my daughter has become my greatest motivation." (Author unknown, frequently shared online)
"You are my daughter, not my subject." (King Triton, The Little Mermaid)
"I have a daughter and she's a great kid. But I think she's a little bit of a nerd like me." (Barack Obama, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno)
"By the time a man realizes that his father was right, he has a daughter who thinks he's wrong." (Charles Wadsworth, quoted in Reader's Digest,)
"To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter." (Euripides, Medea, 431 BCE)
"My daughter introduced me to some new music today. It’s always fun to see what the next generation is listening to." (Author unknown, often attributed to general public discourse)
"A man's daughter is his heart, given out to walk around in the world." (Author unknown, frequently shared online as an inspirational quote)
"A daughter is a treasure and a cause of sleeplessness." (Ben Sirach, Sirach 42:9, 2nd century BCE)
Etymology
The word "daughter" has a very old and interesting family history, stretching back thousands of years!
It comes from a super ancient language called Proto-Indo-European (PIE). This was a language spoken by people who lived a very long time ago, perhaps between 4500 and 2500 BCE, in a region generally thought to be the Pontic-Caspian steppe (around modern-day Ukraine and Russia). This PIE language is the shared ancestor of many languages spoken today across Europe, parts of Asia, and India, including English, German, Latin, Greek, Russian, and Sanskrit.
The PIE root for "daughter" is reconstructed by linguists as dʰugh₂tḗr (don't worry too much about the special symbols – they just help linguists describe the sounds precisely!).
From this ancient PIE root, the word evolved through different stages:
It became duhtēr in Proto-Germanic (the ancestor of English, German, Dutch, etc.).
Then, in Old English (the language spoken in England before 1066), it was "dohtor."
Finally, it transitioned into "doughter" or "doghter" in Middle English, before settling into our modern "daughter" around the 16th century, particularly in Southern England.
The first known use of the word "daughter" in its recognizable form in English (as "dohtor") dates back to the Old English period, before the 12th century. Its meaning has remained consistently "a female child considered with reference to her parents," or simply "one's female offspring."
Interestingly, some linguists have suggested that the PIE root might have originally been related to words meaning "to milk" or "the one who milks," implying that daughters might have been primarily associated with milking animals in ancient societies. However, this particular etymology is debated among scholars and isn't universally accepted. The core meaning of "female offspring" has been very stable throughout its long history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Daughter
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "daughter," supplemented with related expressions where common "daughter" idioms are scarce:
Like father, like daughter: (An idiom) A daughter resembles her father in character or behavior.
Like mother, like daughter: (An idiom) A daughter resembles her mother in character or behavior.
The daughter of the house: Refers to a female child or young woman who lives in a particular house, often implying her role or position within the family.
A king's daughter: Often used to imply nobility, purity, or high status.
To give one's daughter in marriage: An older, formal phrase for a parent arranging or allowing their daughter to marry.
Father and daughter dance: A common event at weddings or school functions.
Our daughters, ourselves: A phrase often used in discussions about women's issues, focusing on the relationship between mothers and daughters or the shared experiences of women. (Adapted from the book title "Our Bodies, Ourselves").
A daughter's love: A phrase emphasizing the unique affection and bond a daughter has for her parents.
To be someone's daughter through and through: To embody the characteristics or spirit of one's parents, especially the father, completely.
No daughter of mine: (An idiom) Used by a parent to disown or strongly disapprove of a daughter's actions or choices.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of daughter from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
