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wife
1[ wahyf ]
noun
- a married woman, especially when considered in relation to her partner in marriage.
- a woman ( archaic or dial., except in idioms):
old wives' tale.
verb (used with or without object)
- Rare. wive.
-wife
2- a combining form of wife, now unproductive, occurring in compound words that in general designate traditional roles or occupations of women:
fishwife; goodwife; housewife; midwife.
wife
/ waɪf /
noun
- a man's partner in marriage; a married woman uxorial
- an archaic or dialect word for woman
- take to wifeto marry (a woman)
Derived Forms
- ˈwifeless, adjective
- ˈwifehood, noun
- ˈwifeliness, noun
- ˈwifely, adjective
- ˈwifeˌlike, adjective
Other Words From
- wifedom noun
- wifeless adjective
- wifeless·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of wife1
Word History and Origins
Origin of wife1
Idioms and Phrases
- take to wife, to marry (a particular woman):
He took an heiress to wife.
More idioms and phrases containing wife
see under wives .Example Sentences
In a statement announcing his death, Lord Prescott’s wife and two sons said he had been in a care home recently living with Alzheimer’s.
In typical Prescott style, he claimed it was so his wife Pauline's hair would not get blown about.
“And my wife’s saying, ‘Why do you keep ordering just two?
He lives in Oxnard with his wife and never built a home on his farm.
He denied that his crimes against his wife had been sparked by an inferiority complex or by a desire for revenge for an affair she had in the 1980s.
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More About Wife
What is a basic definition of wife?
A wife is a married woman.
The word wife is often used when a woman’s marital status is important to the current topic. For example, a man might explain to a salesperson that he is looking for a present for his wife, which is a lot more helpful than saying he is buying a gift for “a woman.”
The plural of wife is wives. A man who is married is called a husband. A woman whose marital partner has died is called a widow.
- Real-life examples: Queen Isabella I of Castille was the wife of King Ferdinand II of Aragon. King Henry VIII infamously had six wives (but one at a time!). If you are married to a woman, then she is your wife.
- Used in a sentence: My uncle has never been married and says he has no interest in finding a wife.
Sometimes, a modifier is used with wife to be more specific about a woman’s marital partner.
- Used in a sentence: The documentary explored the lives of prison wives.
Some married people prefer gender-neutral terms, such as spouse or partner. The choice is up to the people in the marriage.
Where does wife come from?
The first records of wife come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English word wīf, meaning “woman.” It is related to the Dutch wijf, the German Weib, and the Old Norse vīf.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to wife?
What are some synonyms for wife?
What are some words that share a root or word element with wife?
What are some words that often get used in discussing wife?
How is wife used in real life?
Wife is a very common word used to explain a woman’s relationship to her spouse.
My wife is the Person of the Year.
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) December 12, 2020
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has teed up a trip to the Oscars as a Christmas gift for his wife Cathy.
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) December 27, 2013
A man near and dear to me and many others has lost his wife in a battle with cancer. My prayers are with you Coach Jackson
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 3, 2013
Try using wife!
True or False?
The word wife is used to refer to a woman who is not married.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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