ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English stepmoder, from Old English stēopmōdor (akin to Middle High German stiefmuoter, Old Norse stjūmōthir ), from stēop- step- + mōdor mother — more at step- , mother
1. : the wife of one's father by a subsequent marriage
2. : one that fails to give proper care or attention
the monastery had got the credit of founding a school but had … been a stepmother to it — Contemporary Review
3. dialect : hangnail