Where does “in-law” come from?

in-law (English) comes from English -in-law, from English mother-in-law, from Middle English moder in lawe — mother-in-law.

in-law (English): A relative by marriage (or through affinity)

Definitions

  1. A relative by marriage (or through affinity)

Ancestry of “in-law”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-in-lawRelated through marriage
2Englishmother-in-lawThe mother of one's spouse; A mother-in-law...
3Middle Englishmoder in lawemother-in-law

Words derived from “in-law”

Every word from Middle English moder in lawe →Every word from English -in-law →Every word from English mother-in-law →