Of or pertaining to a wife or wives

sionnach commented on the list of-or-pertaining-to-a-wife-or-wives

uxorilocal presumably refers to the kind of trophy wife who is always on a diet. I kind of like the word helpmeet, which seems always to be used to refer to a particular kind of wife.

October 9, 2007

minerva commented on the list of-or-pertaining-to-a-wife-or-wives

There's also jointure, dowry, and settlements. Oh, and there's prenup, too.

January 3, 2008

chained_bear commented on the list of-or-pertaining-to-a-wife-or-wives

Thanks! I added the first two, but since settlements and prenup (presumably you mean pre-nuptial agreements?) also apply to husbands, I respectfully leave them to find their own list.

January 3, 2008

bilby commented on the list of-or-pertaining-to-a-wife-or-wives

Wikipedia has an entry on mahr which may be of relevance. And by definition polygamy - it's not paper-folding for maths professors - refers to wives :-)

January 3, 2008

chained_bear commented on the list of-or-pertaining-to-a-wife-or-wives

Thanks Bilby, I'll check out that Wiki page when I have a chance.

As for polygamy, again I respectfully decline as it technically applies to spouses, not wives in particular. Here's what OED says on the matter:

1. a. The practice or custom of having more than one spouse at the same time. Contrasted with monogamy.

Chiefly applied to the practice or custom (more explicitly called polygyny) in which a man has several wives at once, but also including polyandry, in which a woman has several husbands.

Sometimes also used with reference to sexual partners rather than spouses.

January 3, 2008

uselessness commented on the list of-or-pertaining-to-a-wife-or-wives

Yes, polygyny is the word you're looking for.

January 3, 2008