(honorific) a polite way to refer to someone else's wife; originally referring to the inner quarters of a house where women lived

(literary) an honorific way to refer to someone else's wife

the inner rooms or living area of a house traditionally designated for women

a woman's orders to her husband; usually used humorously to describe the orders given to a henpecked man

woman of noble character or a standard of conduct for women

the innermost part of a large building or palace

the authority or power a wife exerts over her husband, often in an intimidating or shrewish manner

To appoint a military officer with full authority to act at their discretion; to entrust a general with supreme command of the army.

womanly virtues or the moral excellence of a woman

A model or code of conduct for women's virtues; used in literary contexts.