Lady
Lady (lā"dy) , noun
[Old English ladi, lafdi, Anglo-Saxon hlafdige, hlafdie; Anglo-Saxon hlāf loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to English dairy. See Loaf, and compare Lord.]
1.
A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household.
Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou? The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady.
2.
A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord.
Lord or lady of high degree.
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,...
We make thee lady.
3.
A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart.
The soldier here his wasted store supplies,
And takes new valor from his lady's eyes.
4.
A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right.
5.
A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman.
6.
A wife; -- not now in approved usage. — Goldsmith
7.
Any woman; as, a lounge for ladies; a cleaning lady; also used in combination; as, saleslady.
8.
(Zoology) The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; -- so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates.
Collocations (11)
Ladies' man , a man who affects the society of ladies.
Lady altar , an altar in a lady chapel. — Shipley
Lady chapel , a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Lady court , the court of a lady of the manor.
Lady crab (Zoology) , a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Lady in waiting , a lady of the queen's household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen.
Lady Mass , a Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. — Shipley
Lady of the manor , a lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord.
Lady's maid , a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady. — Thackeray
Our Lady , the Virgin Mary.
Lady , adjective
Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike.