wives

[ wahyvz ]
/ waɪvz /

noun

plural of wife.

Definition for wives (2 of 3)

wife
[ wahyf ]
/ waɪf /

noun, plural wives [wahyvz] /waɪvz/.

a married woman, especially when considered in relation to her partner in marriage.
a woman (archaic or dial., except in idioms): old wives' tale.

verb (used with or without object), wifed, wif·ing.

Rare. wive.

Origin of wife

before 900; Middle English, Old English wīf woman; cognate with Dutch wijf, German Weib, Old Norse vīf

OTHER WORDS FROM wife

wife·dom, noun wife·less, adjective wife·less·ness, noun

Definition for wives (3 of 3)

wive
[ wahyv ]
/ waɪv /

verb (used without object), wived, wiv·ing.

to take a wife; marry.

verb (used with object), wived, wiv·ing.

to take as wife; marry.
to provide with a wife.

Origin of wive

before 900; Middle English wiven, Old English wīfian, derivative of wīf; see wife

Example sentences from the Web for wives

British Dictionary definitions for wives (1 of 3)

wives
/ (waɪvz) /

noun

the plural of wife

British Dictionary definitions for wives (2 of 3)

wive
/ (waɪv) /

verb archaic

to marry (a woman)
(tr) to supply with a wife

Word Origin for wive

Old English gewīfian, from wīf wife

British Dictionary definitions for wives (3 of 3)

wife
/ (waɪf) /

noun plural wives (waɪvz)

a man's partner in marriage; a married woman Related adjective: uxorial
an archaic or dialect word for woman
take to wife to marry (a woman)

Derived forms of wife

Word Origin for wife

Old English wīf; related to Old Norse vīf (perhaps from vīfathr veiled), Old High German wīb (German Weib)

Idioms and Phrases with wives (1 of 2)

wives

see old wives' tale.

Idioms and Phrases with wives (2 of 2)

wife

see under wives.