FATHER-IN-LAW (fathers-in-law)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: fathers-in-law   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does father-in-law mean? 

• FATHER-IN-LAW (noun)
  The noun FATHER-IN-LAW has 1 sense:

1. the father of your spouse

  Familiarity information: FATHER-IN-LAW used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FATHER-IN-LAW (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The father of your spouse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("father-in-law" is a kind of...):

begetter; father; male parent (a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father))

in-law; relative-in-law (a relative by marriage)

 Context examples 

“I heard it from your father-in-law's sister. Very decided character there, sir?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

If anything could have driven me from Gladys, it would have been the thought of such a father-in-law.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Crawford probably could not regard his future father-in-law with any idea of taking him for a model in dress; but (as Fanny instantly, and to her great relief, discerned) her father was a very different man, a very different Mr. Price in his behaviour to this most highly respected stranger, from what he was in his own family at home.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It did not often happen; for Mr. John Knightley had really a great regard for his father-in-law, and generally a strong sense of what was due to him; but it was too often for Emma's charity, especially as there was all the pain of apprehension frequently to be endured, though the offence came not.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“Are you not aware, sir,” returned Mr. Chillip, with his placidest smile, “that your father-in-law is again a neighbour of mine?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“To your father-in-law,” said my aunt.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I have the happiness of knowing your father-in-law, whispered Mr. Creakle, taking me by the ear; and a worthy man he is, and a man of a strong character.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Presently they began to talk about aunts, and then I told them about mine; and about fathers and mothers, and then I told them about mine; and then Mrs. Heep began to talk about fathers-in-law, and then I began to tell her about mine—but stopped, because my aunt had advised me to observe a silence on that subject.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)