husband

[ huhz-buhnd ]

noun

1. a married man, especially when considered in relation to his partner in marriage.
2. British. a manager.
3. Archaic. a prudent or frugal manager.

verb (used with object)

1. to manage, especially with prudent economy.
2. to use frugally; conserve:

   to husband one's resources.

   Synonyms: hoard, store, save, preserve

3. Archaic.
   1. to be or become a husband to; marry.
   2. to find a husband for.
   3. to till; cultivate.

husband

/ ˈhʌzbənd /

noun

1. a woman's partner in marriage
2. archaic.
   1. a manager of an estate
   2. a frugal person

verb

1. to manage or use (resources, finances, etc) thriftily
2. archaic.
   1. tr to find a husband for
   2. (of a woman) to marry (a man)
3. obsolete.
   tr to till (the soil)

Derived Forms

• ˈhusbandless, adjective
• ˈhusbander, noun

Other Words From

• husband·er noun
• husband·less adjective
• un·husband·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of husband¹

before 1000; Middle English husband ( e ), Old English hūsbonda master of the house < Old Norse hūsbōndi, equivalent to hūs house + bōndi ( bō-, variant of bū- dwell ( boor ) + -nd present participle suffix + -i inflectional ending)

Word History and Origins

Origin of husband¹

Old English hūsbonda, from Old Norse hūsbōndi, from hūs house + bōndi one who has a household, from bōa to dwell

Example Sentences

It was exciting to think about her as a brilliant and crazed doctor living out in the jungle with her husband developing these medicines that she thinks are going to make her a millionaire.

From Salon

She said she and her husband, Crispen, had started to look into surrogacy when, unexpectedly, she fell pregnant.

From BBC

“Kids were separated from their fathers and husbands,” shouted an elderly woman whose dark eyes blazed with anger.

From BBC

Ms Byanyima said she did not expect her husband to get justice.

From BBC

Betty Brown and her husband spent more than £50,000 of their savings to cover the unexpected losses which started as soon as the Horizon computer system was installed in her branch.

From BBC

Related Words

• companion
• partner
• spouse