goodwife

See also: Goodwife

English

Alternative forms

• (title): Goodwife

Etymology

From Middle English goodwyf, godwyf, godwif, equivalent to good +‎ wife.

Noun

goodwife (plural goodwives)

1. (obsolete) A female head of a household.
   • 1886-88, Richard F. Burton, The Supplemental Nights to the Thousand Nights and a Night:

     "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."

2. (obsolete) A title of respect for a woman.

   Goodwife Hopkins

Synonyms

• (title): Mrs

Derived terms

• (title): goody