dame

[deym]

noun

1. (initial capital letter),  (in Britain)

   1. the official title of a female member of the Order of the British Empire, equivalent to that of a knight.

   2. the official title of the wife of a knight or baronet.

2. (formerly) a form of address to any woman of rank or authority.

3. a matronly woman of advanced age; matron.

4. Slang: Sometimes Offensive.,  a term used to refer to a woman.

   Some dame cut me off and almost caused an accident.

5. Ecclesiastical.,  a title of a nun in certain orders.

6. a mistress of a dame-school.

7. Archaic.,  the mistress of a household.

8. Archaic.,  a woman of rank or authority, especially a female ruler.

dame

¹

/ deɪm /

noun

1. (formerly) a woman of rank or dignity; lady

2. a nun who has taken the vows of her order, esp a Benedictine

3. archaic,  a matronly or elderly woman

4. slang,  a woman

5. Also called: pantomime dame. the role of a comic old woman in a pantomime, usually played by a man

Dame

²

/ deɪm /

noun

1. the title of a woman who has been awarded the Order of the British Empire or any of certain other orders of chivalry

2. the legal title of the wife or widow of a knight or baronet, placed before her name Compare Lady

   Dame Judith

Sensitive Note

Dame is sometimes perceived as insulting when used to refer generally to a woman, unless it is a woman of rank or advanced age.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dame¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin domina, feminine of dominus lord, master

Word History and Origins

Origin of dame¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin domina lady, mistress of a household

Example Sentences

The much-loved author, who was made a dame in 2008, admits she has long felt a particular affection for The Illustrated Mum and it "is one of my favourite books".

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Like a brassy classic dame, she says exactly what she means.

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Hill explained his stepfather, Tony, had met his mother in an amateur dramatics group, and often wrote pantomimes and starred in them as the dame.

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Today’s glass and steel tower over the bones of what was once the grande dame of colonial luxury, the Hong Kong Hotel.

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She was made a dame by the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to fashion and journalism in 2017, and was made Companion of Honour by King Charles earlier this year.

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