A medieval ‘wif,’ when directly translated is what you and I know as a ‘wife or female spouse. However the MED (Middle English Dictionary) lists many additional meanings for the word when used during the period known as the Middle ages. Among those two are decidedly distinct in meaning: “Wif/Wiff” = 1) a band for binding together sticks or wheat. [paraphrased] 2) “A human biological female, a woman, also, the female partner in procreation, the mother, the mistress of a household, also a stewardess (of property).”
Now consider, if you did not know ‘wif’ was a Middle English term, you might think it was (as do some etymologists) a dialectical error for the preposition ‘with’ which has links to the first definition given above. Below, I continue the scene from last week and play with the first and second meanings of ‘wif.’ For continuity, I’ve included the last line of text from the previous week’s scene.
He hooked a finger in her bodice with one hand and stuffed the filthy hose between her breasts then walked off whistling.
“You . . . you . . . evil, beastly, cur,” she sputtered.
Whistling, Iver sauntered out into the bailey, leaving behind the wif God had cursed him with. Finally, he’d left the victor after a battle with Brigdhe. She claimed she’d disguised herself as his intended bride wed him in that sweet girl’s place in order to save his soul. His wif had been making a misery of his life ever since. Throughout the entire journey to MacTavish Castle, she’d harangued both him and his men—insisting they pray at every stop, refusing to feed them the food she cooked herself unless they washed their entire bodies, not just their hands, and telling him he’d no right to bed her, when everyone might hear what they did. Now they were home and still she denied him her bed. Having her courses, she’d claimed. True or not that excuse would only put him off two more days.
He looked forward to that night with a great deal of pleasure. He’d wif his holier than everyone wif using bonds of pleasure so great she’d cry Hosannah, and thank the lord for giving her such a skilled spouse. Then they’d see who would deny whom.
Next week, I’ll introduce you to one of Brigdhe’s sisters and her hero.
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