1.
beloved wife; wife one married for love
A wife whom one married out of romantic love rather than through an arranged marriage. Carries a warm, affectionate nuance. Somewhat old-fashioned in tone.
Composed of 恋 (romantic love) and 女房 (wife, somewhat old-fashioned). The word implies that the marriage was a love match (恋愛結婚) as opposed to an arranged marriage (見合い結婚). Has a warm, slightly nostalgic tone and is used more in narrative or literary contexts than everyday conversation.