What does widowed mean?

"widow indeed" in the book of I Timothy refers to a woman who is widowed and has no means of support. Paul is discussing the women who would be able to supported by the church.

In that time period, a woman was not permitted by Roman Law to own any property without a husband. So, if the woman's husband died, the land she lived on would be taken away unless her son (or son-in-law) or another male descendent was ready to take it over.

The woman who had no living offspring and whose husband died had absolutely no means of supporting herself (most women were not permitted to hold jobs either), and would starve to death or turn to being a prostitute in order to survive. Allowing the church to care for such widows would keep them alive, show the love of God, keep them from turning to a life of sin, and allow them the opportunity to teach the younger women how to behave.