Word of the Day

Wednesday March 24, 2010

uxorious [uk-SOR-ee-us; ug-ZOR-]

adjective

So at first, Tiger Woods with a steering wheel, or a waitress, in his hand seemed every bit as diverting as Tiger Woods with a golf club in his hand. Which is not at all diverting. What was going on? Did people go to see this guy play golf because he was uxorious? Did he claim that being a one-woman-man improved his swing? When the sportsman asked for privacy, I sympathised.

Deborah Orr, "Think you're not obsessed with money? Well, think again", The Guardian, Dec 10, 2009
There were also two mayors arrested in the operation, but one kind of expects mayors to be less than savory. Comes with the territory. The mayors of both Los Angeles and San Francisco have had unfortunate and eventually very public sexual escapades, while the mayor of my hometown, Oakland, seems rather too uxorious for his own good. Of course, that's not a crime.

Jon Carroll, "I don't mean to be cynical, but ...", San Francisco Chronicle, Jul 28, 2009
A man need not, I hope, be deemed uxorious for liking a quiet dinner alone with his wife before he starts on a long journey.

Anthony Hope (1863 - 1933) An English novelist and playwright. Rupert of Hentzau (1895)

Origin of the Word

Uxorious, approximately 1598, derives from Latin uxorius "of or pertaining to a wife," from uxor "wife."