Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for dame on Thesaurus.com (initial capital letter ) (in Britain) the official title of a female member of the Order of the British Empire, equivalent to that of a knight. the official title of the wife of a knight or baronet. (formerly) a form of address to any woman of rank or authority. a matronly woman of advanced age; matron. Slang : Sometimes Offensive a term used to refer to a woman: Some dame cut me off and almost caused an accident. Ecclesiastical a title of a nun in certain orders. a mistress of a dame-school. Archaic the mistress of a household. Archaic a woman of rank or authority, especially a female ruler. Show More
Origin of dame 1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin domina, feminine of dominus lord, master
Usage 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.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dame Contemporary Examples of dame Over a glass (or more) of port, we toast to the Queen…and Dame Judi Dench.
Dame Diana Rigg, who plays Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, has turned tales of critical bashing into a delightful play.
That was your first big film with real actors, and several stars, like Michael Fassbender, Dame Judi Dench, etc.
In the coming weeks, Ahrendts will collect a DBE from the British Government, becoming a Dame of the British Empire.
Angela Lansbury has been created a Dame in the Queen's New Year honors list, for services to drama and charity.
Historical Examples of dame If any dame sent me up for three years and then wanted money from me, do you think she'd get it?
One of these wings was set aside for Dame Kronk and the little girl.
This paper was my contract, and mon petit Dame explained that she was not my mother.
Mon petit Dame came downstairs, with her grave husband, and kissed me.
At that time I had no secretary, but mon petit Dame served me as such.
British Dictionary definitions for dame (formerly) a woman of rank or dignity; lady a nun who has taken the vows of her order, esp a Benedictine archaic , mainly British a matronly or elderly woman slang , mainly US and Canadian a woman Also called: pantomime dame British the role of a comic old woman in a pantomime, usually played by a man Show More
Word Origin for dame C13: from Old French, from Latin domina lady, mistress of a household
the title of a woman who has been awarded the Order of the British Empire or any of certain other orders of chivalry the legal title of the wife or widow of a knight or baronet, placed before her name Dame Judith Compare Lady Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for dame n. early 13c., from Old French dame "lady, mistress, wife," from Late Latin domna , from Latin domina "lady, mistress of the house," from Latin domus "house" (see domestic ). Legal title for the wife of a knight or baronet. Slang sense of "woman" first attested 1902 in American English.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
