E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Katharine or Kathari’na.
Daughter of Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua. She was very beautiful, but a shrew. Petruchio of Vero’na married her, and so subdued her imperious temper by his indomitable will, that she became the model of a “submissive wife,” and gave Bianca, her sister, most excellent advice respecting the duty of submission. (Shakespeare; Taming of the Shrew.)
1
The Katherine de’ Medici of China. Voochee, widow of King Tae-tsông.
