What is divorce? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of divorce

divorcenoun

sự ly dị

/dɪˈvɔːs/

Definition & pronunciation of <b>divorce</b>

Where does the word divorce come from?

The word "divorce" has a rich history that dates back to the 14th century. The term originates from the Old French word "divors," meaning "to separate" or "to split." This Old French word is derived from the Latin phrase "dissolvere," which means "to loosen" or "to dissolve." In the 13th century, the Latin phrase "dissolvere" was used to describe the act of severing a marriage contract. The Old French "divors" eventually evolved into the Middle English "divors," and subsequently, the modern English word "divorce." Over time, the term "divorce" has come to describe the formal dissolution of a marriage, often involving a legal process and the eventual annulment of marital bonds. Despite its modern usage, the concept of "divorce" has roots in ancient languages, underscoring the significant impact of linguistic evolution on our understanding of complex social institutions like marriage.

Vocabulary summary divorce

typenoun

meaningdivorce

meaning(figurative) separation, separation

exampleto divorce one thing from another

typetransitive verb

meaningdivorce; divorce (husband and wife...)

meaningto distance, to separate from, to separate from

exampleto divorce one thing from another

Example of vocabulary divorcenamespace

meaning

the legal ending of a marriage

  • The marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
  • an increase in the divorce rate (= the number of divorces in a year)
  • They have agreed to get a divorce.
  • Divorce proceedings (= the legal process of divorce) started today.
  • Bella wants a divorce.
meaning

an act of separating two things; the ending of a relationship between two things

  • the divorce between religion and science
  • After 20 years of marriage, Sarah and Mark decided to file for divorce.
  • Their divorce was finalized last month, and Jennifer is now adjusting to life as a single mother.

Synonyms and related words for divorce


Comment ()