Uxorious

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ʌkˈsɔːɹ.i.əs/

Definitions

1. Excessively submissive to or dependent upon one's spouse, especially to an excessive or unmanly degree
2. Overly devoted to or dominated by one's wife to a degree considered weak or unbecoming
3. Characterized by excessive obedience and deference toward one's spouse at the expense of one's own independence

Etymology: Uxorious is one of those English words that sounds like it should mean something grander than it does. It comes from Latin "uxorius," meaning "of or pertaining to a wife," built from "uxor" ("wife") and the adjective-forming suffix "-ious," which English also uses in words like "glorious" and "curious." Its earliest sense was neutral, simply relating to a wife or married life. Over time the word narrowed into something with a faintly comic edge. To be uxorious is to dote on one's wife to the point of excess, and the word often carries a hint that the husband has let his devotion override his other responsibilities or his own judgment. The shift from a plain descriptive term to a judgment about a man's conduct is what gives it its character.

Synonyms: doting, fawning

Antonyms: indifferent, neglectful