Log in or Sign up
better half love

better half

Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One's spouse.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun idiomatic (US, Canada) A person's spouse or lover, most commonly a man's wife. Generally a compliment or sign of respect.
  • noun idiomatic, archaic A person's close friend or companion

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a person's partner in marriage

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Ultimately translation of such phrases in Latin poety as animae dīmidium meae, half of my soul (referring to the poet's friend).]

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word better half.

Examples

    Sorry, no example sentences found.

Log in or sign up to add your own related words.

synonyms (23)

Words with the same meaning

  1. common-law wife
  2. concubine
  3. consort
  4. feme
  5. feme covert
  6. goodwife
  7. goody
  8. helpmate
  9. helpmeet
  10. lady
  11. married woman
  12. mate
  13. matron
  14. old lady
  15. old woman
  16. partner
  17. rib
  18. spouse
  19. squaw
  20. wedded wife
  21. wife
  22. woman
  23. yokemate

hypernyms (6)

Words that are more generic or abstract

  1. domestic partner
  2. relation
  3. relative
  4. significant other
  5. spousal equivalent
  6. spouse equivalent

hyponyms (14)

Words more specific or concrete

  1. bigamist
  2. consort
  3. helpmate
  4. helpmeet
  5. honeymooner
  6. hubby
  7. husband
  8. married man
  9. married woman
  10. monogamist
  11. monogynist
  12. newlywed
  13. polygamist
  14. wife

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • misterpolly commented on the word better half

    Better half a loaf today than no loaf tomorrow?

    December 14, 2007