housewife
|house/wife|
B2
/ˈhaʊsˌwaɪf/
woman managing household
Etymology
Etymology Information
'housewife' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'hūsweif', where 'hūs' meant 'house' and 'weif' meant 'woman'.
Historical Evolution
'hūsweif' changed from Old English word 'hūsweif' and eventually became the modern English word 'housewife'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'woman of the house', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a married woman managing household affairs'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a married woman whose main occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs, and doing housework.
She decided to become a housewife after the birth of her second child.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39