ETYM Old Eng. wif, AS. wif; akin to OFries. and OS. wif, Dutch wijf, German weib, Old High Germ. wîb, Icel. vîf, Dan. viv; and perhaps to Skr. vip excited, agitated, inspired, vip to tremble, Latin vibrare to vibrate.
(Irregular plural: wives).
A married woman; a man's partner in marriage; SYN. married woman.