Lady's maid

Lady's maid
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.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • lady's maid — ► NOUN chiefly historical ▪ a maid who attended to the personal needs of her mistress …   English terms dictionary

  • lady's maid — lady s ,maid noun count a woman in the past who was the personal servant of another woman …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Lady's maid — A lady s maid is a female personal attendant who waits on the lady of the house. The position is very similar to a gentleman s valet, who was the gentleman s version of the lady s maid and was (if the gentleman s personal assistant WAS female)… …   Wikipedia

  • lady's-maid — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ verb Etymology: lady s maid : to serve or attend as a lady s maid : maid …   Useful english dictionary

  • lady's maid — noun a maid who is a lady s personal attendant • Hypernyms: ↑maid, ↑maidservant, ↑housemaid, ↑amah …   Useful english dictionary

  • lady's maid — /ˈleɪdiz meɪd/ (say laydeez mayd) noun a maid who is a lady s personal attendant in dressing, etc …  

  • lady's maid — a maid who is a woman s personal attendant, as in dressing. [1800 10] * * * …   Universalium

  • lady's maid — noun chiefly historical a maid who attended to the personal needs of her mistress …   English new terms dictionary

  • lady's maid — la′dy s maid′ n. a woman s personal attendant • Etymology: 1800–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • 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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”