The compound "then-wife" is a modern English formation that transparently combines two native English elements to create a specific relational term. "Then," an adverb of time with roots in Proto-Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European demonstrative bases, serves to pinpoint a period in the past. "Wife," from Old English wīf (woman), has a complex history tracing back to Proto-Germanic wībą, whose own Proto-Indo-European origin is uncertain but likely related to the concept of "shame" or "modesty," reflecting ancient social roles. The compound's logic is purely syntactic and temporal, linking the general noun "wife" with a modifier that situates the marital status as belonging to a former, referenced time, resulting in a clear, concise term for a former spouse.

Structure: then (temporal) + wife (spouse) - then: From Old English þonne, þænne, meaning "at that time, in that case." It functions as a temporal adverb or adjective specifying a past period. - wife: From Old English wīf, meaning "woman, female, wife." It functions as a noun denoting a married woman.