goodwife

American  

[good-wahyf] / ˈgʊdˌwaɪf /

noun

plural

goodwives

1. Chiefly Scot. the mistress of a household.

2. (initial capital letter) a title of respect for a woman.

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goodwife British  

/ ˈɡʊdˌwaɪf /

noun

1. the mistress of a household

2. a woman not of gentle birth: used as a title

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Etymology

Origin of goodwife

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; good, wife

Example Sentences

Paying small heed to those about her, the goodwife sipped the water, prayed quietly.

From Time Magazine Archive

She, too, had three attendants�her aunt, another goodwife who had borne 17 children, and her husband Ovila Dionne.

From Time Magazine Archive

And there is something so touching so exquisitely touching in those Flemish interiors, where the goodwife is seated reading, and a straggling sunbeam comes slanting in upon the tiled floor.

From The Daltons, Volume I (of II) Or,Three Roads In Life by Lever, Charles James

To goodwife that thou shalt be sworn, even on the same wise, If she refuse thy money once, never to offer it twice.

From Gammer Gurton's Needle by Art, Mr. S. Mr. of

Truly, goodwife R., I think my husband is turned also: here hath been one reasoning with them three or four hours.

From Witch, Warlock, and Magician Historical Sketches of Magic and Witchcraft in England and Scotland by Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport)