Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Of or befitting a wife.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Pertaining to or befitting a wife; like a wife.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Becoming or life; of or pertaining to a wife.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Of, befitting, pertaining to, or characteristic of a
wife .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective befitting or characteristic of a wife
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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As I knew she was originally from a country with a very conservative culture, I didn't snort at her use of the word "wifely" or ask if that meant having a martini waiting for my husband at the end of the work day.
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To the cloister-reared maiden the idea of wifely duty was elevated almost to a religion.
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Because she has the perfect "wifely" ways -- always on the republican message, and always smiling adoringly at her adolescent hubby.
VA-SEN: Second Appearance In Court Records Of A "George Felix Allen" In 1973 -- Confirmed 2009
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“I didn’t get enough of it,” Joe says, referring to the wifely roughing up.
THE HUSBANDS AND WIVES CLUB LAURIE ABRAHAM 2010
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According to Heine, an Englishman loves liberty as a good husband loves his wife; that is also how he loves the land of his birth; at all events, England has a kind of wifely embrace for the home-coming
The Martian George Du Maurier 1865
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Even though I don’t agree with the idea of wifely submission, and even find it personally unethical.
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I couldn't help but wonder, "Is this a glimpse into what my 'wifely' challenges might involve?
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That morning, Grigor Samsa awoke to realise that being in possession of six extra legs, he was in need of a wifely insect.
random library shelving Another Outspoken Female 2009
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"All you who feel less than competent at humour (and life) could do worse than following the wifely admonition in this New Yorker cartoon," says Paul Szabo.31st over: South Africa 149-3 (Kallis 31, du Plessis 1) Now it's seam at both ends, with Shafiul Islam coming on.
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So, if Pitt was a sulking, dope-smoking loser during his marriage to Aniston, that wasn't his fault, it was hers – yeah, damn her and her wifely love and loyalty!
Kelis reveals the face of casual British racism | Barbara Ellen 2011
chained_bear commented on the word wifely
Having the character befitting a wife; such as a wife should be. Hence wifelihead (or wivelihead), wifeliness, wifely character or quality.
October 9, 2007
bilby commented on the word wifely
Both husbandly and wifely look very awkward to me. But there's no better on the horizon ... spousely (no, it's not a herb), partnerly (thanks for the Bridge night), consortly (yuck, you can I tell just made that up) ... and daylight.
May 31, 2008