The term 'wifely' can carry traditional expectations about a wife's role, which may vary by culture. Her grandmother's stories were filled with examples of wifely obedience common in past generations.
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Gender Expectations
'Wifely' may imply gender roles some find outdated, such as a wife being submissive to her husband. He praised her wifely patience, which she found to be a rather old-fashioned compliment.
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Contextual Usage
Use 'wifely' in contexts addressing marriage or spousal relationships, often traditional ones. In the novel, the protagonist struggled with the wifely expectations placed upon her.