bachelor
English meaning: Bachelor
Definition
A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
Example
“As a lifelong bachelor, he enjoyed travelling on a whim.”
Another example: “She completed her bachelor's degree in three years.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral; usually means an unmarried man, often with a connotation of independent lifestyle ('bachelor pad', 'eligible bachelor'). Also the first university degree ('bachelor's degree'). 'Bachelorette' is the female counterpart.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'bacheler' (a young squire or aspirant to knighthood), of uncertain origin, entering English in the 13th century.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- confirmed bachelor
- eligible bachelor
- bachelor's degree
- bachelor party
- bachelor pad
Word Forms
bachelor (n); bachelors (pl); bachelorhood (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B