Main Entry:

wife

Pronunciation:

\ˈwīf\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural wives \ˈwīvz\

Etymology:

Middle English wif, from Old English wīf; akin to Old High German wīb wife and probably to Tocharian B kwīpe female pudenda

Date:

before 12th century

1 adialect : woman b: a woman acting in a specified capacity —used in combination <fishwife>2: a female partner in a marriage

— wife·hood \ˈwīf-ˌhu̇d, ˈwī-ˌfu̇d\ noun

— wife·less \ˈwī-fləs\ adjective