goodwife en · NOUN
Etymology
From Middle English goodwyf, godwyf, godwif, equivalent to good + wife.
Meanings
-
(obsolete) A female head of a household.
"O my lord the Sultan," said the other [the Wazir], "verily women be weakly of wits, and haply this goodwife cometh hither to complain before thee against her goodman or some of her people."
1885–1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC:
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(obsolete) A title of respect for a woman.
Goodwife Hopkins
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwife | alternative | lexicographic | |
| goodwives | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
goody (title)
Synonyms
Mrs (title)