wifely

[ wahyf-lee ]

adjective

, wife·li·er, wife·li·est.

1. of, like, or befitting a wife.

Other Words From

• wifeli·ness noun
• un·wifely adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wifely¹

before 900; Middle English wifly, Old English wīflīc. See wife, -ly

Example Sentences

He seems to have, at least if nothing else, a woman who flirts with him with a wifely confidence.

From The Daily Beast

They seem less afraid of her hard power than they were of her soft, behind-the-scenes, wifely power.

From The Daily Beast

Moreover, wifely adoration was particularly bad for clergymen, who were far too much inclined already to give themselves airs.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Joe ran for his overcoat and best hat, gave him a wifely kiss, and watched him depart from the low brown door-way.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, with true wifely instinct she sought to cheer him up with pleasing prattle of a new bonnet he had promised her.

From Project Gutenberg

Mme. Fauvel's resistance grew weaker and more faint, as her niece pointed out the line for her to pursue: the path of wifely duty.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet the lady of the Van Pool, whatever her practice, had in theory some relics of old-fashioned wifely duty.

From Project Gutenberg