χήρα
Alt. χήρα, ionicχήρη, ἡ,
I. "bereft of a husband, a widow", Lat. vidua, c. gen., χήρη σευ ἔσομαι, says Andromache to Hector, Il.; χῆραι γυναῖκες "widow" women, id=Il.; so Eur., etc.
2. from χήρα was formed the masc. χῆρος (as "widower" from "widow)", Anth.
II. χῆρος, α, ον, as adj., in metaph. sense, "widowed, bereaved", χῆρα μέλαθρα Eur.; c. gen., φάρσος στελεοῦ χῆρον a piece "torn from" the stem, Anth.
Etym. deriv. uncertain