wife Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
wife definition

wife (wīf)

noun pl. wives (wīvz)

  1. a woman: still so used in such compounds as midwife, housewife, etc.
  2. a married woman; specif., a woman in her relationship to her husband

Etymology: ME < OE wif, woman, akin to Swed viv, Ger weib < ? IE base *weip-, to twist, turn, wrap, in sense “the hidden or veiled person”

Related Forms:

wife Idioms

take to wife

Archaic to marry (a specified woman)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms wife idiom

wife Synonyms

wife

n.

married woman, spouse, lady, dame, madam, matron, squaw*, helpmate*, helpmeet*, consort*, marrow*, mate*, housewife*, better half*, the missis*, the little woman*, wifey*, ball and chain*, the old lady*.

Antonyms widow*, spinster*, old maid.

take to wife

marry, wed, espouse; see marry 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

wife Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • estrange: Some say that Kinser, 33, was a man-about-town, who was having an affair with Malcolm's estranged wife.

Adjective modifier

  • beloved: Tony has written elsewhere of his beloved wife: " She was my socialist soulmate.

Modifies a noun

  • murderer: Welcome as fleas interviewed on october the young writer of wife murderers.

Noun used with modifier

  • lady: But Nestor himself slept in the innermost room of the tall building, and with him his lady wife for love and comfort.

Possessives

  • sister: Susan is surprised when she finds out she was Jerry's first wife's sister.

Possessives

  • footballer: That's odd; because I'm thinking footballer's wife crossed with Russian pimp.

Preposition: of

  • banker: Also on the series was Kelly Harmon as Sunny Hayward, the wife of a powerful banker who was having an affair with Joe.
wife usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

wife quotes

Liquide constet inter virum et uxorem amorem sibi locum vindicare non posse. It is clearly certain that between man and wife love can claim no place.

-Andreas Capellanus   fl. late12c

   And Tib my wife, that as her life Loveth well good ale to seek, Full oft drinks she, till ye may see The tears run down her cheeks.

-Anonymous

   To the man-in-the-street, who, I'm sorry to say, Is a keen observer of life, The word 'Intellectual'suggests straight away A man who's untrue to his wife.

-Auden,W(ystan) H(ugh)

wife quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"wife." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/wife>

APA Style

wife. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/wife

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment