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goodwife. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
goodwife, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
goodwife in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
goodwife you have here. The definition of the word
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goodwife, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English goodwyf, godwyf, godwif, equivalent to good + wife.
Noun
goodwife (plural goodwives)
- (obsolete) A female head of a household.
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), : Burton Club , →OCLC:"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."
- (obsolete) A title of respect for a woman.
Goodwife Hopkins
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