transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈwīf ]
noun
( plural wives ˈwīvz)
Etymology: Middle English wif, from Old English wīf; akin to Old High German wīb wife and probably to Tocharian B kwīpe female pudenda
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. dialect : woman
b. : a woman acting in a specified capacity — used in combination
fish wife
2. : a female partner in a marriage
• wife·hood ˈwīf-ˌhu̇d, ˈwī-ˌfu̇d noun
• wife·less ˈwī-fləs adjective