mulier

Etymology

Latin mulier (“woman”), from mollior (“softer, weaker”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmjuː.lɪə/

Noun

mulier (plural muliers)

1. (law, historical) Lawful issue born in wedlock, in distinction from an elder brother born of the same parents before their marriage.
   • 1908, Alfred John Horwood, Luke Owen Pike, Year books of the reign of King Edward the Third: Volume 15

     Or suppose an inquest were taken between us, and it were found that they are muliers, for which reason the voucher stood, and they came and pleaded the same exception to escape from warranting as heirs, then two inquests would be taken […]

2. (obsolete) A woman; a wife or mother.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Blount to this entry?)

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Cowell to this entry?)

Anagrams

• Muriel

Etymology

From mollior, comparative of mollis (“soft, tender”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈmu.li.er/, [ˈmʊ.li.ɛr]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈmu.li.er/, [ˈmuː.li.er]
• (Vulgar) IPA^(key): /ˈmu.li.er/, [ˈmo.le.er]

Noun

mulier f (genitive mulieris); third declension

1. a woman, female
2. a wife
3. (figuratively) a coward, poltroon

References

• mulier in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• mulier in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• mulier in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette