I. ˈhəzbənd noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English housbonde, husbonde husbandman, married man, master of a house, from Old English hūsbonda master of a house, from Old Norse hūsbōndi, from hūs house + bōndi householder, peasant owning his own land — more at house , bond
1. obsolete : husbandman 1
2.
a. : a married man
husband and wife should agree on how to budget the family income
b. : a man who on the basis of his tribal or societal institutions is considered to be married
under the levirate a man was obliged to become the husband of his brother's widow
3.
a. archaic : the manager of another's property : steward
b. : ship's husband
4. : one that uses thriftily or saves for future use : hoarder
barren husbands of the gold — S.V.Benét
speaks his whole mind gaily, and is not the cautious husband of a part — W.B.Yeats
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English husbonden, from housbonde, husbonde, n.
1. archaic : to plow and grow crops on (land) : cultivate
2.
a. : to take care of : utilize to advantage : manage
the ancient Nile is controlled at its source … and its waters are to be husbanded for the benefit of the farmers — Elizabeth II
specifically : to equip, supply, and maintain (a ship)
b. : to use sparingly or hold back for future use : conserve , save
husband one's strength or resources
husband their air strength … for the best nights, rather than risk losses from the weather — A.A.Michie
toys … husbanded for the benefit of baby — Robert Grant †1940
3. archaic : to marry or find a husband for