Some terms and concepts that were widely used by our ancestors are now more and more forgotten. Young women who have recently married are surprised at how their spouse's parents call them. In order for the new status not to be a curiosity for readers, we will deal with you who are the daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law. What is the difference between these concepts?
This is one and the same person in relation to two different people.
Modern linguists put forward several versions of the origin and use of these terms by our ancestors. It is believed that in Russia from time immemorial a clear hierarchy was observed within a large family. When the son got married, he did not leave home, but brought to the family a new full member. The woman was called both daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law. What is the difference? Some experts argue that if she was a daughter-in-law in relation to her spouse's mother, then she is a daughter-in-law in relation to her father. And vice versa. It is easy to guess that this version has many opponents, since it could sow a certain confusion in the family hierarchy.
More common version
In today's publication, we consider the Old Slavonic terms “daughter-in-law” and “daughter-in-law”. What is the difference between them, help to understand the explanatory dictionaries. When the son brought a new family member into the house, the parents at first always always distrusted the woman. They said as follows, “He brought anyone to the house.” The reduction from this expression resulted in the word "daughter-in-law." Although many people notice that this word is too consonant with the more noble and sublime concept of “bride”. The young woman had to earn the love and respect of her husband's parents. She did her best to please them and did not have special rights. Everything changed when the first-born appeared in a young family.
Blood ties
The child became the connecting link between the newcomer woman, the son and his parents. Therefore, the difference between daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law is obvious: there was a “whoever”, and she became a close relative. Now the young woman, as a continuer of the clan, family traditions and family name, had much more rights. It is said that in Russia they often listened to the opinions of the wives of the eldest sons in choosing life companions for the younger ones. The daughter-in-law had almost the same authority as the father and mother.
Differences in meanings
If you want to know what is the difference between a daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law, you can turn to popular explanatory dictionaries. However, in this case, you may expect some disappointment, because the explanatory dictionaries in different editions do not give a single version. And this means that you have to make a choice in favor of one or another explanation. We examined the generally accepted version of the explanation of who the daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law are. What is the difference, V.I.I. Dahl. Living Great Russian language used the word daughter-in-law in the meaning of “son-in-law, daughter-in-law”. Everyone had to decide how to call a new relative. For example, if the family was large, the wives of the brothers called each other daughters-in-law, and the parents of the husbands, in turn, called them daughters-in-law. Later, however, in large families, the appeal "daughter-in-law" gradually came to naught. Also to avoid confusion.
Now you know who the daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law are. What is the difference between them and what are the similarities. In fact, this is one and the same person, only occupying a certain position in the family. However, according to the Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov, there is some discrepancy with previous versions.According to the new edition, the daughter-in-law is the wife of the son in relation to the father of the spouse (father-in-law). But the husband’s mother, as well as other members of the family, should call the woman a daughter-in-law. The same version is followed by several other publications, in particular, the Small Academic Dictionary.
Ozhegov's dictionary describes the daughter-in-law as a woman in relation to the parents of her husband, daughter-in-law. As you can see, this option does not conceal any pitfalls and complex blood weaves. Everything is very clear here.
Origin of the word
The etymology of the word “daughter-in-law” could not go back to the verb “to bear”. The meaning of the word “intercourse” as an act began to be used in the Russian language much later. Linguists also exclude the widespread version that the young woman was to “bear” from new relatives (in particular from her mother-in-law) insults, humiliation, nit-picking and other hardships. Folklore often ascribes to relationships within the family that which is not really present, or too exaggerates the facts. According to Dahl, “daughter-in-law” means the same as the son (“son”). More modern versions associate this word with the European meaning “sneu” (knit). In other words, the daughter-in-law is a connecting link.
Modern use
In modern Russian, both of these words are rarely used now. That is why people in the mass do not know who the daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law are, what is the difference between them. A modern mother-in-law can call a woman a daughter-in-law even after the birth of a child only because of her own ignorance. It should be remembered that since the husband’s mother received a new status and has now become a grandmother, her daughter-in-law should also increase her importance. Therefore, it is better to call her daughter-in-law.
