Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WIFE, n. [plur. Wives. Sax. wif; D. wyf; G. weib, woman.]

1. The lawful consort of a man; a woman who is united to a man in the lawful bonds of wedlock; the correlative of husband. The husband of one wife. 1 Tim. iii. Let every one of you in particular, so love his wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she reverence her husband. – Eph. v.
2. A woman of low employment; as, strawberry wives. [Not in use.] – Shak.