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Know Your English (Sep 2001)

Know your English

What is the word for a wife who is excessively fond of her husband?

Some time ago I had written in this column that the English language has a word for a man who is excessively fond of his wife -"uxorious"- but that it doesn't have a word for a woman who is excessively fond of her husband. I am happy to report that such a word does exist. The word is "maritorious". It is derived from the Latin "maritus" meaning "husband". But unlike the word "uxorious", "maritorious" is a word that is seldom heard or used. One does not find it listed in most dictionaries. Wonder why!


Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, September 04, 2001
Posted by Sridevi. V, M.A

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n. An advocate of women's suffrage, especially in the United Kingdom
 
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