Changes

*2. a. A woman joined to a man by [[marriage]]; a married woman. Correlative of HUSBAND n. 2. (The ordinary current sense.)

*2. a. A woman joined to a man by [[marriage]]; a married woman. Correlative of HUSBAND n. 2. (The ordinary current sense.)

:b. Phrases.    (a) to wife (TO prep. 11b), for a wife, to be one's wife: in such phrases as to take to wife, to marry (somewhat arch.); {dag}to give (grant) to wife, to bestow in marriage; {dag}to have (hold) to wife, to have as one's wife, be the husband of; to will to wife, to desire to marry.   

:b. Phrases.    (a) to wife (TO prep. 11b), for a wife, to be one's wife: in such phrases as to take to wife, to marry (somewhat arch.); {dag}to give (grant) to wife, to bestow in [[marriage]]; {dag}to have (hold) to wife, to have as one's wife, be the husband of; to will to wife, to desire to marry.   

::(b) wife's light, a light (in a church) maintained by married women (cf. maiden's light, MAIDEN n. 10).     

::(b) wife's light, a light (in a church) maintained by married women (cf. maiden's light, MAIDEN n. 10).     

Hence wifekin, wifelet, wifeling, wifelkin (dial.), as terms of endearment = little wife; wifeship, the [[status|position]] or relation of a wife; wifeward adv., towards or to one's wife. (All nonce-wds.)

Hence wifekin, wifelet, wifeling, wifelkin (dial.), as terms of endearment = little wife; wifeship, the [[status|position]] or relation of a wife; wifeward adv., towards or to one's wife. (All nonce-wds.)

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]