lady

Definitions

1. 1.A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady. Shak.
2. 2.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. Waller.
3. 3.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.
4. 4.A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman.
5. 5.A wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith.
6. 6.(Zoöl.) 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. 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 (Zoöl.), 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.
7. 7.Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike. "Some lady trifles." Shak.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "lady" mean?
• What is another word for "lady"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is lady.

• What is a woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman called?
• What is a wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith called?
• What is belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike. "Some lady trifles." Shak called?