husband
Meaning
a married man; a man in relation to his spouse.
to use something carefully and without waste; to manage resources prudently.
Usage
Her husband is a teacher at the local school.
It is important to husband our natural resources for future generations.
They have been husband and wife for over twenty years.
Etymology
The word 'husband' has a rich history rooted in domestic management. It entered English from Old Norse 'húsbóndi', literally meaning "house-dweller" or "master of a house." This Norse term combined 'hús' (house) and 'bóndi' (a freeholder or peasant who owned his home and land). Over time in English, the meaning narrowed from a general "male head of a household" to specifically "a married man." The verb sense, meaning to manage resources thriftily, developed directly from the original concept of a 'húsbóndi' responsibly stewarding his household's assets.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It originates from the Old English 'hūsbonda', which itself came from Old Norse 'húsbóndi'. The Old Norse term is a compound of 'hús' (house) and 'bóndi' (dweller, householder, one who has a household).