godmother

Meanings

Noun

• A woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a female godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child.

Verb

• To act as godmother to.

Related

Similar words

• co-mother
• cummer

Broader meaning words

• godparent

Origin

• From Middle English godmoder, from Old English godmōdor, equivalent to god + mother. Cognate with Old High German gotmuoter, Old Norse guðmóðir, Icelandic guðmóður, Swedish gudmoder, Danish gudmor.