old-maidism

• “But one can never reckon with real, bred-in-the bone old-maidism.”

  Chronicles of Avonlea

• “It's nothing but a chronic case of old-maidism," said father impatiently.”

  Chronicles of Avonlea

• “There was, indeed, a danger -- his seniors said so -- of his developing into a regular "Auntie Fuss" of an adjutant, and when an officer once takes to old-maidism there is more hope for the virgin of seventy than for him.”

  The Day's Work - Volume 1

• “Nothing but solitary old-maidism, unless two of you happen to be sisters, for who else will join her shame to yours?”

  The Christian A Story

• “There was one thing about her which excited much talk; I suppose it was only a piece of old-maidism.”

  The Burial of the Guns

• “It was considered as carrying old-maidism to an extreme length.”

  The Burial of the Guns

• “He supports her, and she has escaped the obloquy of old-maidism.”

  Not Pretty, but Precious

• “So she thrusts the burden of her sins upon other people's shoulders, and travels the first stage to captious and disappointed old-maidism.”

  Aurora Floyd. A Novel

• “Now, nothing daunted, she insisted on John viewing the case from Zara’s standpoint: the very natural desire of an ageing woman for a home and a husband; the dreaded stigma of old-maidism; the weariness and monotony of going on teaching other people’s children year after year; the mortification of seeing younger women chosen over your head, and your salary steadily decreasing as you grew older.”

  The Way Home

• “Her husband adores her; I adore her; two cousins on the point of _old-maidism_ adore her -- she will always be adored, as fresh reasons for loving her continually arise. ”

  Women in the Life of Balzac

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