co-wife en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈkəʊ.waɪf/ (UK)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈkoʊ.waɪf/ (US)
Etymology
From co- + wife.
Meanings
-
In a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman’s husband.
In other words, polygamous societies differ markedly with regards to allowing kin, especially sisters, to become co-wives. Sororal polygamy is practised in some societies because it is believed to foster greater cohesiveness among co-wives sharing values and norms, whereas it is specifically forbidden in other polygamous societies.
2008, Miriam Koktvedgaard Zeitzen, Polygamy: a cross-cultural analysis, page 32:If a co-wife had sought the lives of those three of thine.
1892, Kipling & Balestier, Naulahka, page 247:In fact, [Ayesha] was more jealous of Khadija, the dead wife, than she was of any of her living co-wives.
1990, Syed A. A. Razwy, Khadija-tul-Kubra (the Wife of the Prophet Muhammed) May Allah be Pleased with Her: A Short Story of Her Life), page 165:If the senior wife decides to make life unbearable for her co-wife and their husband, she is likely to succeed in forcing the newcomer to leave.
2000, Marjorie Shostak, Nisa, the life and words of a ǃKung woman, page 152:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| co-wives | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Relateds
Synonyms
wife-in-law · co-bride · fellow-wife
Translations (59)
vi vợ bé (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · gu શોક (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · syc ܥܲܪܬܼܵܐ (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ik nuliiraq (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · tr ortak (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · fr co-épouse (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · fa بنانج (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · he צָרָה (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ff siinaa (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ta சக்களத்தி (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · phn 𐤑𐤓𐤕 (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · kmr hewî (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ur سَوکَن (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · or ସପତ୍ନୀ (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ff nawliraaɗo (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · fr sœur-épouse (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · or ସଉତୁଣୀ (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · fi sisarvaimo (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · bn সপত্নী (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ae 𐬵𐬀𐬞𐬀𐬚𐬥𐬍 (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ar ضَرَّة (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · mch öiyaato (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · yo orogún (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · as সতিনী (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · bn সতিন (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · emk sìna (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ar جَارة (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · sq shemër (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · hi सौत (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · cmn 媵 (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · fa هوو (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ru втора́я жена́ (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · tg палонҷ (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · sa सपत्नी (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · eo kunedzino (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · es coesposa (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ha kīshìyā (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · mr सपत्नी (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · pl współżona (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · eo boedzino (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · gu સપત્ની (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ps بن (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · nup tsudò (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ki mũiru (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · mr सवत (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ur سَوت (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · fr coépouse (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · tr kuma (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · hi सौतन (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · sw mke mwenza (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ff nawlan (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ks سوتَن (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · pa ਸੌਂਕਣ (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ur سَوتَن (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · arc עָרְתָא (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · afb شريچة (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · gu શોકય (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ms madu (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband) · ru тре́тья жена́ (in a polygamous marriage, another wife of a woman's husband)