old wivish

old wivish (comparative more old wivish, superlative most old wivish)

1. Alternative form of old-wifish.
   • 1843 [a. 1568], Thomas Becon, “David’s Harp”, in John Ayre (for The Parker Society), editor, The Early Works of Thomas Becon, S. T. P. Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, Prebendary of Canterbury, &c. Being the Treatises Published by Him in the Reign of King Henry VIII., Cambridge: […] [T]he University Press, page 286:

     [marginal note: “1 Tim. iv.”] Let them “cast away ungodly and old wivish fables,” and “be unto them that believe an example in the word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in pureness.”

   • 1844 [a. 1570], Myles Coverdale, “The Order of the Church of Christ in Denmark, and in Many Places of Germany, for the Lord’s Supper, Baptism, and Holy Wedlock”, in George Pearson (for The Parker Society), editor, Writings and Translations of Myles Coverdale, Bishop of Exeter. […], Cambridge: […] [T]he University Press, page 487:

     “To cast away unghostly and old wivish fables, to be unto them that believe an ensample in the word, in conversation, in love, in the spirit, in faith, in pureness; to give attendance unto reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timoth. iv.

   • 1849 June 1, T. T. Aberdonensis, “No. I.”, in J[ohn] S[tuart] Blackie, The Water Cure in Scotland: Five Letters from Dunoon, Originally Published in the “Aberdeen Herald,” Now Reprinted, Aberdeen: George Davidson; London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co.; Edinburgh: Sutherland & Knox, page 10:

     Other objections to the hydropathic practice that I have heard are so puerile or old wivish—running away reasonless with the fragment of a fact, or the bare imagination of a fact, that I cannot find it in my heart to honour them with a serious confutation.

   • 1873 August 28, “Presbyterian Congregational Meeting”, in The Evening Herald, volume VI, number 1,882, Wanganui, page [2], column 4:

     He (Mr H) represented the minority, the poor, peeled, and scattered few, who had been called narrow-minded and old wivish. (Hear, Hear). In his opinion the boot was on the other leg. They were standing up for that worship which embraced them all, for the worship of their forefathers. The worship may be bare, may be unattractive, and he believed all true religious worship was so to carnal minds, but it was a pure and holy worship. They had been called old wivish. How about the other side? Had not their wives been exceedingly busy in canvassing and bringing up people to vote, when the wives of the minority had followed out the old apostolic injunction to stay at home?