noun, feminine/bɛl.mɛʁ/plural: belles-mères
mother-in-law; stepmother; a retired politician (male or female) who tries to keep influencing their successors through public or behind-the-scenes interventions
Synonyms: marâtre
Antonyms: parâtre
Inherited from Middle French belle-mere, belle-mère. By surface analysis, belle- + mère.