Definition of Goodwife

1. n. The mistress of a house.

Definition of Goodwife

1. Adjective. (A title of respect for a woman). ¹

2. Adjective. (A title of respect for a woman). ¹

3. Noun. (obsolete) A female head of a household ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Goodwife

1. the mistress of a household [n -WIVES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Goodwife

goodput
goods
goods and sales tax
goods and services tax
goods and services taxes
goods train
goods trains
goods van
goodship
goodsire
goodsires
goodsized
goodtempered
goodtime
goodtime girl
goodwife (current term)
goodwill
goodwilled
goodwillie
goodwillies
goodwills
goodwilly
goodwives
goody
goody-goodies
goody-goody
goody-two-shoes
goody bag
goody bags
goody goodies

Literary usage of Goodwife

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Records of the Colony Or Jurisdiction of New Haven, from May, 1653, to the Union by New Haven (Conn.) (1858)
"goodwife Barlow of Fairfeild before the court did now testify vpon oath, that when Knapps wife was hanged and ready to be buried, she desired to see the ..."

2. Reading Records: Diary of the Corporation by J. M. Guilding (1895)
"... Clayton saith that when goodwife Russell's mayde was by Mr. ... the said goodwife Russell came thither and willed her mayd that she should not worke, ..."

3. Diary of the Corporation by J. M. Guilding (1895)
"... Clayton saith that when goodwife Russell's mayde was by Mr. ... if she did worke she would beat her; and the said goodwife Clayton said if she did not ..."

4. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts by George Francis Dow (1913)
"James, having charged goodwife Lee with theft and yet saying that he thought in his conscience she was clear, was sentenced to sit in the stocks one hour or ..."

5. Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases, 1648-1706 by George Lincoln Burr (1914)
"Being Sacrament Day at the Village, Sarah Cloys, Sister to goodwife Nurse, ... goodwife Proctor was brought thither, being Accused or cryed out against; ..."

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