Lady fern

Lady fern
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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  • lady fern — noun most widely grown fern of the genus Athyrium for its delicate foliage • Syn: ↑Athyrium filix femina • Hypernyms: ↑fern • Hyponyms: ↑Alpine lady fern, ↑Athyrium distentifolium • Member Holo …   Useful english dictionary

  • lady fern — paprastasis blužniapapartis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vudsijinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis augalas (Athyrium filix femina), paplitęs Europoje, šiaurės Afrikoje, Azijoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Athyrium filix… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • lady fern — fern with delicate soft fronds …   English contemporary dictionary

  • lady fern — a fern, Athyrium filix femina, having delicate, feathery fronds. * * * ▪ fern  a large, feathery fern classified in the family Woodsiaceae, widely cultivated for ornamentation. Leaves are about 75 cm (30 inches) long and 25 cm (10 inches) wide… …   Universalium

  • lady fern — noun a tall, graceful fern of moist, shady habitats. [Athyrium filix femina and other species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • lady-fern — /ˈleɪdi fɜn/ (say laydee fern) noun any of several species of ferns belonging to the genus Athyrium, especially A. filixfemina, common in woods in the Northern Hemisphere …  

  • Alpine lady fern — noun a lady fern with deeply cut leaf segments; found in the Rocky Mountains • Syn: ↑Athyrium distentifolium • Hypernyms: ↑lady fern, ↑Athyrium filix femina * * * noun : a fern (Athyrium americanum) with deeply cut leaf segments found in the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • alpine lady fern — alpinis blužniapapartis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vudsijinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Athyrium distentifolium), paplitęs Europoje, Azijoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Athyrium distentifolium angl. alpine lady fern… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • auriculate lady fern — ausytasis blužniapapartis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vudsijinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Athyrium otophorum), paplitęs rytų Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Athyrium otophorum angl. auriculate lady fern šaltinis Valstybinės lietuvių… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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