henpecked

hen +‎ pecked

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛnpɛkt/

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• Hyphenation: hen‧pecked

henpecked (comparative more henpecked, superlative most henpecked)

1. (particularly of husbands or boyfriends) Intimidated or overwhelmed by a nagging or overbearing matriarch, wife, or girlfriend.
   • June-July 1884, Henry James, “The Author of Beltraffio”, in The English Illustrated Magazine:

     "I noticed that he addressed her as 'My dear,' very genially, without any trace of resentment.... The quickness of the transition made me vaguely ask myself whether he were henpecked,—a shocking conjecture, which I instantly dismissed."

• pussywhipped
• under the thumb
• uxorious

• mother hen (noun), mother-hen (verb)

• wear the pants