[f. L. ūxōri-us (f. ūxor wife): see -OUS.]
1. Of persons: Dotingly or submissively fond of a wife; devotedly attached to a wife.
1598. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. vi. Whose mannish housewives … make a drudge of their uxorius mate.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., IV. i. Hee’s an asse that will be so vxorious, to tie his affections to one circle.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 64. Effeminate and Uxorious Magistrates, govern’d and overswaid at home under a Feminine usurpation.
1680. C. Nesse, Ch. Hist., 178. Whom, being an uxorious man, Jezabel his wife stirred up.
1730. Fielding, Rape upon Rape, Wks. 1775, II. 39. You are not the only wife who would give her husband this advice…. Were all men so uxorious to take it, Tyburn [etc.].
1782. W. F. Martyn, Geog. Mag., I. 218. The uxorious monarch [sc. Solomon].
1822. T. Attwood in C. M. Wakefield, Life (1885), vii. 89. I am a little what vulgar folks call uxorious, and am never truly eloquent upon any subject but my wife and children.
1836–7. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Charac., vii. A living warning to all uxorious old boys.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 150. I have found that uxorious men … may bring themselves into a somewhat similar state of debility.
transf. 1708. Prior, Turtle & Sparrow, 417. Uxorious Inmate, Bird obscene, Dar’st thou defile … These silent Seats of faithful Loves?
b. fig. (of inanimate objects, etc.).
1634. Cartwright, Ordinary, I. iv. We have got One that will doe more good with ’s tongue that way Than that uxorious showre that came from Heaven.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), VI. 196. Weary Ploughmen cursed the Stay Of the too Uxorious Day.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, I. ii. 19. Th’ uxorious River glides away,… smooth-winding to the Sea.
1813. H. & J. Smith, Horace in London, 19. Sir Francis … To father Thames commits his fate. In secret the uxorious tide Safe bears him to the Surrey side.
1863. Conington, trans. Horace, Odes, I. ii. 20. Old Tiber,… spite of Jove, his banks o’erflows, Uxorious flood.
2. Of actions, etc.: Marked or characterized by excessive affection for one’s wife.
1623. B. Jonson, Time Vind., ad fin. The Boy … hath plots upon you all. A Pensioner unto your wives, To keepe you in uxorious gives.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 13. Husbands … were wont to straw … vpon the graues … of their deceased deare wiues,… diuers purple flowers: by which vxorious office, they did … lessen the griefe of their hearts.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Dial. Dead, Wks. 1711, IV. 29. My dotage on her Charms had bred in me … a fond, blind, uxorious Vice.
1739. Earl Orrery, in O. Papers (1903), I. 269. My Hours … at Caledon … slide away in uxorious happiness, and rustic Joys.
1813. Edin. Rev., XXI. 199. The … uxorious propensities of the dynasty.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Dr. Watkins Tottle, i. A rather uncommon compound of strong uxorious inclinations, and an unparalleled degree of anti-connubial timidity.
1879. F. W. Farrar, St. Paul, I. 309. Claudius … with all his pedantic and uxorious eccentricity was not devoid … of kindness.
Hence Uxoriously adv.
1647. Stapylton, Juvenal, 87. If thou’lt uxoriously to one adhere, Submit thy willing necke the yoke to beare.
1693. Dryden, trans. Juvenal, Sat., VI. 292. If thou art thus Uxoriously inclin’d, To bear thy Bondage.
a. 1721. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), II. 152. Uxoriously led by the nose all your life.
1827. Southey, Lett. (1856), IV. 70. A foolish wife, of whom he was uxoriously fond.
1903. Sat. Rev., 28 Feb., 261/1. She is quite worthy to have plays written uxoriously round her.
