different between wifely vs wisely

English

Alternative forms

• wively (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English wifly, wifli, from Old English w?fl?c (“womanly, wifely”), from Proto-Germanic *w?bal?kaz (“wifely”), equivalent to wife +? -ly. Cognate with Scots wyfelie (“womanly, wifely”), Dutch wijflijk, wijfelijk, German weiblich (“feminine, female”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?wa?fli/

Adjective

wifely (comparative wifelier, superlative wifeliest)

1. Of, befitting, pertaining to, or characteristic of a wife.
   • 1869, Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Part 2, Chapter 38,^[1]

     Being a domestic man, John decidedly missed the wifely attentions he had been accustomed to receive, but as he adored his babies, he cheerfully relinquished his comfort for a time, supposing with masculine ignorance that peace would soon be restored.

   • 1944, Emily Carr, The House of All Sorts, “Unmarried,”^[3]

     A woman who does not nose into the domestic arrangements of the place she is going to occupy gives the first hint, for a woman indifferent to the heating, furnishing, plumbing, cooking utensils of her home is not wifely.

Synonyms

• uxorial
• wifey

Derived terms

• unwifely
• wifeliness

Translations

• Italian: mogliesco (it)

English

Etymology

From Middle English wisliche, wislike, from Old English w?sl??e (“wisely”, adverb), equivalent to wise +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?wa?zli/

Adverb

wisely (comparative wiselier or more wisely, superlative wiseliest or most wisely)

1. In a wise manner; using good judgement.

   She wisely decided to re-check her homework before submitting it.

   • 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23

     "My second command to the Winged Monkeys," said Glinda "will be that they carry you safely to the land of the Winkies. Your brains may not be so large to look at as those of the Scarecrow, but you are really brighter than he is—when you are well polished—and I am sure you will rule the Winkies wisely and well."

Derived terms

• unwisely

Translations

Anagrams

• Wilsey