Sister Meaning and Definition
Sister
Pronunciation
/ˈsɪstər/
Part of Speech
Noun, Feminine Accusative
Definition
A female child or young woman related to a person by having the same parents or by marriage; a close friend or companion.
Examples
- She’s my sister from another mother.
- I’m so grateful for my sister who always supports me.
Synonyms
- Soror
- Consangine
Antonyms
- Brother
- Enemy
Etymology
From Old English “sistir”, equivalent to “sweostor” (sister) + “-ɪr” (feminine noun suffix).
Usage Notes
When referring to a female child or young woman related by blood or marriage, use “sister” in the same grammatical context as other nouns (e.g., “The sister is visiting from out of town”). When emphasizing a close friendship or platonic relationship, use “sister” as a term of endearment (e.g., “She’s my sister from another mother”).
Cultural References
The term “sister” has appeared in various contexts in popular culture, including literature, music, and film. For example, the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee features a character named Scout Finch, who refers to her friend Dill as her “sister”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
She’s my sister from another mother / Father
Like sisters
Related Words or Phrases
- Brother
- Fraternities
- Sisterhood
Collocations
- Sisterly love
- Sisterly rivalry
Frequency of Use
Sister is a commonly used term in everyday language, with an average frequency of use in modern language similar to that of other common nouns.
Common Misspellings
- Siter
- Sitster
- Sieter