A prefix used before father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, child, etc., to indicate that the person thus spoken of is not a blood relative, but is a relative by the marriage of a parent; as, a stepmother to X is the wife of the father of X, married by him after the death of the mother of X. See Stepchild, Stepdaughter, Stepson, etc.

A brother-in-law, or by marriage.

A mother by marriage, [the mother of an orphan or one deprived.]

A daughter by marriage, [an orphan daughter.]

A father-in-law; a father by marriage only; [the father of an orphan.]

A mother by marriage only; a mother-in-law; [the mother of an orphan.]

A sister-in-law, or by marriage, [an orphan sister.]

1. A son-in-law, [an orphan son.]

2. [In the foregoing explication of step, I have followed Lye. The D. And G. Write stief, and the Swedes styf, before the name; a word which does not appear to be connected with any verb signifying to bereave, and the word is not without some difficulties. I have given the explanation which appears to be most probably correct. If the radical sense of step, a pace, is to part or open, the word coincides with Sax. Stepan, to deprive, and in the compounds above, step may imply removal or distance.]

A stone laid before a door as a stair to rise on in entering the house.