goodwife

[ good-wahyf ]

noun

, plural good·wives [good, -wahyvz].

1. Chiefly Scot. the mistress of a household.
2. (initial capital letter) Archaic. a title of respect for a woman.

goodwife

/ ˈɡʊdˌwaɪf /

noun

1. the mistress of a household
2. a woman not of gentle birth: used as a title

Word History and Origins

Origin of goodwife¹

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

Example Sentences

He was disguised as a woman, and appeared to be a simple old peasant goodwife.

From Project Gutenberg

Goodman and goodwife were in those days used in the same way as Mr. and Mrs. are now.

From Project Gutenberg

Goodwife Hunter was gagged and made to stand in the stocks for "Sundry exhorbitance of ye toung."

From Project Gutenberg

Then my father looked in at the door and said, "'Tis time, goodwife, for young folks to be abed."

From Project Gutenberg

Once a "goodwife" by the name of Alice Flynt was required to show that she was worth money enough to be able to wear a silk hood.

From Project Gutenberg