Forms: see WIFE sb.; also 6 wyue-, 6–7 wiue-, 7–8 wively. [OE. wíflíc: see WIFE sb. and -LY1. Cf. OHG. wîblich (MHG. wîplich, G. weiblich), Du. wijflijk.]
† 1. Of or pertaining to a woman or women; womanly, feminine. Obs. rare (exc. OE.).
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. ii. § 2. Ac hio mid wiflice niðe wæs feohtende on þæt underiende folc Æthiopiam.
a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. xx. § 2. Þæt he ne furþum wiiflice hade … arede.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. vii. 7. All inflambit in ire and wyfly thochtis [L. jemineæ curæque iræque].
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. xxii. (S.T.S.), I. 123. The victorie … of þis wyfelie contencioun [L. muliebris certaminis] was gevin to lucres.
2. Pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a wife.
c. 1000. Gloss., in Haupt’s Zeitschrift, IX. 505. Matronalis, wiflicre.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1737, Lucrece. Hire wifly chastite. Ibid., 1843. Hir hert was so wyfely and so trewe.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. vii. 12–16. Howe knowest thou … whether thou shalt … by wyuely loue, cause thy husbande to amende?
1591. Harington, Orl. Fur., XXI. xiii. Against all wiuely care … she lets her raging loue to raunge.
1739. G. Ogle, Gualtherus & Griselda. (1741), 1313. The wively patience thus rejoin’d.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Duchess May, lxv. Wifely prayer meets deathly need!
1863. Miss Yonge, Chr. Names, II. iv. 142. A picture of wifely patience.
1872. Jeaffreson, Brides & Bridals, I. ii. 21. The duty of wifely submissiveness to marital authority was impressively inculcated.
3. Having the character befitting a wife; such as a wife should be.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., X. xl. Where she a maiden wife might live, and wifely maid.
1853. Reade, Chr. Johnstone, xvii. A wifely wife, a motherly mother, and above all, a lady.
1871. H. B. Forman, Living Poets, 231. Lest our wives and daughters should lose delicacy or refinement, become less wifely and daughterly.
Hence † Wifelihead (wive-), Wifeliness, wifely character or quality.
1557. Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 204. Whose perfect vertues … So did adorne that humble *wiuelyhed.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., V. 604. With a wife I look to find all *wifeliness.
1896. Mrs. Caffyn, Quaker Grandmother, xxii. Mossy beamed with gentle wifeliness…. ‘You needn’t tell me how to appreciate my husband, Mr. Royds.’
