Historically, the earliest designation of the term step referred to which of the following?

• A. A child who was orphaned.
• B. The second spouse of a remarried male.
• C. The second spouse of a remarried female.
• D. Only non-biological relatives.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is substitution in family roles: step signals someone who steps in to take the place of another in a family relationship. Historically, the earliest use of the term step described a child who is left with someone else to be raised because a parent is no longer present. In this sense, the child is connected to a new caregiver who “steps in,” which fits the idea of an orphan being raised by a non-biological guardian. As a result, the earliest designation fits a child who lacks a parent and becomes linked to a new family figure through marriage or guardianship. The later sense of step relations—such as a spouse who is not biologically related or non-biological relatives—developed from this substitution idea, but the first use centers on the child who is orphaned and connected to a step-parent or stepparent.