Grandams

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term referring to grandmothers or elderly women, often conveying affection or respect; it can signify a matriarchal figure within a family context; in some uses, it evokes nostalgia for traditional family roles and values
2. This word denotes older female relatives, particularly grandmothers, emphasizing their wisdom and familial importance; it may also reflect cultural values associated with aging and nurturing; in certain contexts, it invokes a sense of heritage and continuity
3. Often used to describe affectionate or respectful references to grandmothers, highlighting their role and influence in family histories; it also captures a sense of warmth and familiarity; sometimes, it conveys cultural or historical associations with older women in a community

Etymology: "Grandams" is simply the plural of "grandam", so it refers to more than one grandmother or older female relative. The singular comes from Middle English "graundame", borrowed from Old French "grant dame", literally "great lady". The phrase carried the sense of a respected elderly woman, and the same Old French words also gave English "grande dame", which survives as a doublet: two forms of one origin that entered English by different routes.

Synonyms: grandmothers, nanas, grams, grannies, grandmamma