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by WorldMaker
2267 days ago
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Modern English isn't all that much better, comparatively either. Husband etymology comes from "house-holder" or "house-steward". There's definitely still an implied control relationship if not necessarily "ownership". (Contrast to Old English's companion to wif [wife], wer was simply "married man" by way of connotation change from old German wer which was simply "man".) |
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husband (n.) Old English husbonda "male head of a household, master of a house, householder," probably from Old Norse husbondi "master of the house," literally "house-dweller," from hus "house" (see house (n.)) + bondi "householder, dweller, freeholder, peasant," from buandi, present participle of bua "to dwell" (from PIE root bheue- "to be, exist, grow," and compare bond (adj.)). Beginning late 13c. it replaced Old English wer as "married man (in relation to his wife)" and became the companion word of wife, a sad loss for English poetry. Slang shortening hubby first attested 1680s.