onðamma

Onðamma is a term found in Old English, a Germanic language spoken in England from roughly the 5th to the 12th century. The word is a feminine noun and translates to "mother" in modern English. It is cognate with words in other Germanic languages, such as the Old Norse "amma" and the German "Amme," which also relate to mother or wet nurse.

The usage of onðamma in Old English literature reflects the social and familial structures of the time. It appears in various contexts, from religious texts to heroic poetry, always denoting the maternal figure. While "modor" was another common word for mother, "onðamma" sometimes carried a slightly more specific or perhaps affectionate connotation, though this is subject to scholarly interpretation.

The etymology of onðamma is thought to be derived from a Proto-Germanic root related to nurturing or breast-feeding, reinforcing its connection to the role of a mother. The presence of this word highlights the linguistic continuity within the Indo-European language family and provides insights into the vocabulary used by early English speakers to describe fundamental familial relationships. Understanding such terms is crucial for scholars of Old English literature and linguistics.