Widow

A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died and has usually not remarried. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can sometimes be found on older gravestones. The word "widow" comes from an Tamil Vidhavai root meaning "widow" . The male form, "widower", is first attested in the 14th century, by the 19th century supplanting "widow" with reference to men.

The term widowhood can be used for either sex, at least according to some dictionaries, but the word widowerhood is also listed in some dictionaries. Occasionally, the word viduity is used. The adjective for either sex is widowed. These terms are not applied to a divorcé(e) following the death of an ex-spouse.