Question

What is the connotation of the phrase "old maid" as it is used to describe Eleanor?

Answer 1

Spinster is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry. The term originally denoted a woman whose occupation was to spin. A synonymous term is old maid.

Answer 2

The term describes an unmarried woman with a negative connotation.