Pronunciation: ' hau ̇ s- ˌ w ī f; esp 2 & in early poetry ' h ə -z ə f or -s ə f
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural house · wives \ ' hau ̇ s- ˌ w ī vz also ' hau ̇ z- ˌ w ī vz; ' h ə -z ə fs, -z ə vz, -s ə fs, -s ə vz \
Date: 13th century
1 : a married woman in charge of a household
2 : a pocket-size container for small articles (as thread)
– house · wife · li · ness \ -l ē -n ə s \ noun
– house · wife · ly \ -l ē \ adjective
– house · wif · ery \ - ˌ w ī -f( ə -)r ē ; Brit -( ˌ )wi-f( ə -)r ē also ' h ə -z ə -fr ē \ noun
– house · wif · ey \ ' hau ̇ s- ˌ w ī -f ē \ adjective