wives

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /waɪvz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪvz

Noun

wives

1. plural of wife
2. (obsolete) genitive of wife
   • 1582 February 3, George Whetstone, An Heptameron of Ciuill Discourses. […], London: […] Richard Iones, […]:

     […] beautie in his wiues face, will féede his heart with a thouſand delights: […]

   • 1660, H[enry] More, An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness; or, A True and Faithfull Representation of the Everlasting Gospel of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Onely Begotten Son of God and Sovereign over Men and Angels, London: […] J. Flesher, for W. Morden […], page 80:

     […] where Hercules and Omphale having changed garments, he lying in his wives clothes, and ſhe in his Lions skin, made the luſtfull God mistake ſo unluckily, […]

   • 1711, [Laurent] B[ordelon], translated by [unknown], A History of the Ridiculous Extravagancies of Monsieur Oufle; […], London: […] J. Morphew, […], page 43:

     He found a freſh Subject for his Admiration, when he ſaw the Prickles on that which bore his Wives Name, and the two others without any.

Anagrams

• swive, views

Middle Dutch

Noun

wives

1. genitive singular of wijf

Middle English

Noun

wives

1. Alternative form of wif