goodwife

[ goo d-wahyf ]

/ ˈgʊdˌwaɪf /

noun, plural good·wives [goo d-wahyvz] /ˈgʊdˌwaɪvz/.

Chiefly Scot. the mistress of a household.

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

Nearby words

goods train, goods wagon, goods yard, goodspeed, goodspeed, edgar johnson, goodwife, goodwill, goodwilly, goodwin sands, goodwood, goody

Origin of goodwife

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for goodwife

The parson looked puzzled, Goodwife Kendall looked surprised.
Maid Sally|Harriet A. Cheever
Said the goodwife, "Aoirig, poor woman, it is not the hour for ancient old sgeuls; be thinking of a canny going."
The Lost Pibroch|Neil Munro
The goodwife of the other side of the gate has lost a horn spoon.
The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland|John Knox
The goodwife Asdis sent for her men, and Atli's corpse was laid out, and he was buried beside his father.
The Story of Grettir The Strong|Translated by Eirikr Magnusson and William Morris

After goodwife Knapp was executed, as soon as she was cut downe.
The Witchcraft Delusion In Colonial Connecticut (1647-1697)|John M. Taylor

British Dictionary definitions for goodwife

goodwife

/ (ˈɡʊdˌwaɪf) /

noun plural -wives archaic

the mistress of a household

a woman not of gentle birth: used as a title

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012