Final answer:
In 'The Wife of Bath's Tale,' the word 'tribulation' refers to the severe suffering or hardship that the character has encountered in her married life.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the speaker in The Wife of Bath's Tale uses the word tribulation, she is referring to great suffering. The term is often used in literature to convey a sense of severe trouble or hardship encountered by a character. In this context, the Wife of Bath speaks about the challenges she has faced in her experience with married life, rather than happiness, unity, or dissatisfaction.