housewifely

housewifely

English

Etymology

From Middle English *houswyfely, *houswijfli, *houswiflich, suggested by houswifliche (adverb), equivalent to housewife +‎ -ly.

Adjective

housewifely (comparative more housewifely, superlative most housewifely)

1. Befitting a housewife.
   • c. 1550, Thomas Becon, The Flour of Godly Praiers, London: John Day, “A generalle prayer that all Men may walke in their vo[c]acion and callynge,”

     […] to make the yong women sobre minded, to loue their husbands to loue their children, to be discrete, chaste, housewifely, good and obediente vnto theyr owne husbands […]

   • 1676, Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso, London: Henry Herringman, Act I, p. 12,

     A wholesome good housewifely Countrey Wench is worth a thousand of you, in sadness.

   • 1719 April 25​, [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], 3rd edition, London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], published 1719, OCLC 838630407, page 191:

     […] as for the Maid, she was […] very handy and housewifely in any Thing that was before her; an excellent Manager, and fit indeed to have been Governess to the whole Island […]

   • 1886, Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge, London: Smith, Elder & Co., Volume 2, Chapter 18, p. 240,

     […] her stepfather […] waited on, looking into the fire and keeping the kettle boiling with housewifely care, as if it were an honour to have her in his house.

   • 1969, Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, New York: Bantam, 1971, Chapter 31, p. 207,

     […] I thought my father was mean and cruel. He had enjoyed his Mexican holiday, and still was unable to proffer a bit of kindness to the woman who had waited patiently, busying herself with housewifely duties.

See also

• huswifely