gossipred
/ˈɡɒsɪpɹəd/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Relationship by baptismal rites; spiritual affinity or parentage; sponsorship.
Obsolete; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The following are the principal provisions of this statute : — That intermarriages with the natives, or any connexion with them in the way of fostering or gossipred, should be considered and punished as high treason: […]"
- "But perhaps the most singular illustration of the tendency of kinship to extend itself artificially under the empire of primitive ideas is to be found in certain Slavonic forms of gossipred or spiritual relationship."
- "Indeed gossipred became a powerful link of friendship between families; and to make its influence wider, noble or wealthy families often had for each child several sponsors of both sexes […]"
Etymology
From Middle English gossiprede, gossybrede, godsibrede, from Old English godsibbrǣden (“sponsorial obligations”), equivalent to gossip + -red.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: gossiprede, godsibbrǣden
- Suffix: gossip