wife
/waif/
Definition
- Noun:
- A married woman; a woman joined in marriage to a man: The term "wife" refers specifically to a woman who is united to another person (typically a man) in a legal or formal marriage partnership.
- A female spouse: The female partner in a marital relationship.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- He introduced Sarah as his wife. (He presented Sarah as the woman he is married to.)
- She has been a devoted wife for twenty years. (She has been a loyal and committed married woman for two decades.)
- The company's policy extends benefits to employees and their wives. (The policy includes married female spouses of employees.)
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "To take to wife" (archaic): To marry a woman.
- The king took the noblewoman to wife. (The king married the noblewoman.)
- The term can be used in formal, legal, and everyday contexts to denote the marital status and role of a woman.
Variants and Related Words
- Housewife (n): A woman whose main occupation is managing her family's home. (Note: This is a compound word, not a direct variant of "wife" alone).
- Midwife (n): A person who assists women in childbirth. (Note: This is a compound word with a different etymology).
- Wifely (adj): Characteristic of or suitable for a wife.
- She offered him wifely advice. (She gave him advice characteristic of a spouse.)
Synonyms
- Spouse: A person's partner in marriage (gender-neutral).
- Partner: A member of a couple in a long-term relationship, which may or may not be legally formalized.
- Better half (idiomatic, informal): A humorous or affectionate term for one's spouse.
Antonyms
- Husband: A married man; a man's partner in marriage.
- Widow: A woman whose spouse has died.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Wife material" (informal): A phrase describing a woman considered to have the qualities deemed suitable for being a wife.
- He thinks she is wife material. (He believes she has the qualities to be a good wife.)
- "Old wives' tale": A widely held but traditional belief or superstition that is considered unscientific or foolish.
- That story is just an old wives' tale. (That story is a superstition, not a fact.)
Noun
-
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
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