wive
Very Rare / ArchaicArchaic, Literary
Definition
Meaning
To marry a woman; to take a wife.
To provide with a wife; (archaic) to find wives for.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Wive" is almost exclusively used in its archaic, literary sense. It survives mainly in fixed phrases, historical texts, or deliberate stylistic choices. It carries no modern active meaning of 'to be a wife'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern difference; both treat the word as archaic.
Connotations
Connotes medieval or Shakespearean contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, slightly more likely in British historical/literary discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
TRANSITIVE: He vowed to wive his son well.INTRANSITIVE: He sought to wive.TRANSITIVE + adverbial: He would wive wealthily in London.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"Wive and thrive" (proverbial)”
- “"Wive it wealthily in Paris" (Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The young lord went to court, hoping to wive advantageously.
- The king sought to wive his cousin to a foreign prince for an alliance.
American English
- The settler aimed to wive and start a family on the new land.
- It was his duty to wive and produce an heir.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The story's hero wanted to wive the princess.
- In the historical novel, the duke was urged to wive prudently to secure his line.
- The Elizabethan sonnet playfully explores the poet's dilemma whether to wive or to remain free.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: WIFE -> WIVE. You make someone your WIFE by deciding to WIVE.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS AN ACQUISITION (archaic).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'to be a wife' (быть женой). It's an active action by the (usually) man. Not related to 'survive' (выживать).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a modern synonym for 'marry'.
- Using it to mean 'to be a wife' (e.g., 'She wived him').
- Confusing it with the noun 'wives'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'wive' most appropriately used today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic. You will encounter it almost exclusively in older literature (e.g., Shakespeare) or historical texts.
In its traditional, archaic usage, 'wive' is typically used from the perspective of the man taking a wife. A woman would 'husband' (also archaic) or 'marry'.
The related noun is 'wife'. 'Wive' is the verb derived from 'wife'.
The modern, neutral equivalents are 'to marry' or 'to wed'. 'Wive' adds a specific, now dated, nuance of 'taking a wife'.