Ladies

Ladies
Lady La"dy (l[=a]"d[y^]), n.; pl. {Ladies} (l[=a]"d[i^]z). [OE. ladi, l[ae]fdi, AS. hl[=ae]fdige, hl[=ae]fdie; AS. hl[=a]f loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy. See {Loaf}, and cf. {Lord}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. [1913 Webster]

Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou? The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady. --Wyclif (Gen. xvi. 8.). [1913 Webster]

2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord. ``Lord or lady of high degree.'' --Lowell. [1913 Webster]

Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart. [1913 Webster]

The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor from his lady's eyes. --Waller. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of {gentleman}. [1913 Webster]

6. A wife; -- not now in approved usage. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]

7. Hence: Any woman; as, a lounge for ladies; a cleaning lady; also used in combination; as, saleslady. [PJC]

8. (Zo["o]l.) 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. [1913 Webster]

{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} (Zo["o]l.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab ({Platyonichus ocellatus}) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States.

{Lady fern}. (Bot.) See {Female fern}, under {Female}, and Illust. of {Fern}.

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Ladies' — or Ladies [lād′ēz] n. [also l ] [Informal, Chiefly Brit.] LADIES ROOM: with the * * * …   Universalium

  • Ladies' — or Ladies [lād′ēz] n. [also l ] [Informal, Chiefly Brit.] LADIES ROOM: with the …   English World dictionary

  • ladies — plural of LADY (Cf. lady) (q.v.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • ladies —  Ladies lavatory …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • Ladies — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Ladies, qui signifie « Dames » en Anglais, peut faire référence à : Sommaire 1 Musique 2 Cinéma …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ladies —    Used to address two or more adult women politely, whether strangers, e.g. at a public meeting, friends or family. ‘Well, ladies,’ says St Clare to his wife and cousin, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, ‘and what was the bill of… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • ladies — ● lady, ladies ou ladys nom féminin (anglais lady) Titre porté en Grande Bretagne par les femmes et les filles des lords. Vieux. Femme distinguée : Une jeune lady. ● lady, ladies ou ladys (difficultés) nom féminin (anglais lady) …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • ladies' — noun a) Toilets for women. Kemp left me to go to the ladies. I pulled out a paperback I had in my pocket. b) A store department where clothing is sold for adult females. Wheres the ladies in this joint? Ive to powder me nose …   Wiktionary

  • ladies —    a lavatory exclusively for female use    Usually adjacent to gentlemen. Also as ladies convenience, room etc.:     I tapped a kidney in the ladies room. (Theroux, 1978) …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • ladies — /ˈleɪdiz/ (say laydeez) plural noun (often construed as singular) a toilet for women: where is the ladies? Also, ladies …  

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