housewifely

English

Alternative forms

• housewively

Etymology

From Middle English *houswyfely, *houswijfli, *houswiflich, suggested by houswifliche (adverb), equivalent to housewife +‎ -ly.

Adjective

housewifely (comparative more housewifely, superlative most housewifely)

1. Befitting a housewife.
   • c. 1550, Thomas Becon, “A generalle prayer that all Men may walke in their vo[c]acion and callynge”, in The Flour of Godly Praiers‎^[1], London: John Day:

     […] to make the yong women sobre minded, to loue their husbands to loue their children, to be discrete, chaste, housewifely, good and obediente vnto theyr owne husbands […]

   • 1676, Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso‎^[2], London: Henry Herringman, act I, page 12:

     A wholesome good housewifely Countrey Wench is worth a thousand of you, in sadness.

   • 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 191:

     […] as for the Maid, she was […] very handy and housewifely in any Thing that was before her; an excellent Manager, and fit indeed to have been Governess to the whole Island […]

   • 1886, Thomas Hardy, chapter 18, in The Mayor of Casterbridge‎^[3], volume 2, London: Smith, Elder & Co., page 240:

     […] her stepfather […] waited on, looking into the fire and keeping the kettle boiling with housewifely care, as if it were an honour to have her in his house.

   • 1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 31, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings‎^[4], New York: Bantam, published 1971, page 207:

     […] I thought my father was mean and cruel. He had enjoyed his Mexican holiday, and still was unable to proffer a bit of kindness to the woman who had waited patiently, busying herself with housewifely duties.

Synonyms

• housewifey
• housewifish

See also

• huswifely