housewifely

comparative more housewifely · superlative most housewifely · alternative housewively

1. Befitting a housewife.

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

   1676, Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso, London: Henry Herringman, act I, page 12

   4 more examples

   […] 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 […]

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

   […] 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 […]

   1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 191

   […] 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.

   1886, Thomas Hardy, chapter 18, in The Mayor of Casterbridge, volume 2, London: Smith, Elder & Co., page 240

   […] 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.

   1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 31, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, New York: Bantam, published 1971, page 207

   Synonyms: housewifey, housewifish