HOPE CHEST Definition & Meaning

hope chest

noun

(especially formerly) a chest or the like in which a young woman collected clothing, linens, and other articles in anticipation of marriage.

hope chest

noun

a young woman's collection of clothes, linen, cutlery, etc, in anticipation of marriage Also called (esp in Britain)bottom drawer

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of hope chest¹

First recorded in 1910–15

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I’ve been fortunate to have been given a beloved hope chest and dining room pieces used by my great-grandparents, and I love them more every year.

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My mother was thrilled and began filling a series of plastic bins with cookware and china as a sort of modern-day hope chest.

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The dowry was replaced with a marriage chest, also known as a trousseau or hope chest.

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When I was a teenager and Seventeen magazine still came in the mail, I used to marvel at the ads for hope chests.

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Mom stored Ivy’s great-grandmother’s hope chest up here in the attic, which became Ivy’s room a few months ago so the twins could have their own space.

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