jilt
JILT
/dʒɪlt/
To suddenly reject or abandon a lover, especially at the last minute.
Often associated with being left at the altar or a very public, sudden rejection.
The story behind the word. The word appeared in the 1670s, likely derived from 'jillet', a diminutive of the name 'Jill'. In that era, a 'jillet' was a woman who toyed with men's affections, leading to the verb 'to jilt'.
Word relationships
- abandon: Abandon is general; jilt is specifically about romantic rejection.
- dump: Dump is slang and casual; jilt is more formal and dramatic.
- wed: To wed is to fulfill the promise; to jilt is to break it at the last second.
Commonly confused with
- guilt: Guilt is a feeling of remorse; jilt is an action of rejection.
Collocations
- jilted at the altar
- jilted lover
Example sentences
- "She was jilted at the altar and never truly recovered from the humiliation." A classic literary trope.
- "I have been jilted." A quote from Dickens.
Memory hook
Jilt rhymes with 'guilt'—the person who jilts you should feel a lot of it. Jilt = Just Left (Them).
When not to use
Don't use it for a mutual breakup; it must be one-sided and abrupt.
Fun facts
- The name 'Jill' was so common in the 17th century that it became a generic term for a young woman, much like 'Jack' for a man.
Related words
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