different between housewifely vs housewifelike

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,”^[1]

     […] 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,^[2]

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

   • 1719, Daniel Defoe, The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, London: W. Taylor, p. 191,^[3]

     […] 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,^[4]

     […] 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,^[5]

     […] 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

English

Etymology

housewife +? -like

Adjective

housewifelike (comparative more housewifelike, superlative most housewifelike)

1. housewifely