grande dame
[ gran -dam, deym; French grahnd -dam ]
/ ˈgræn ˈdæm, ˈdeɪm; French grɑ̃d ˈdam /
noun, plural grandes dames [gran -damz, deymz; French grahnd -dam]. /ˈgræn ˈdæmz, ˈdeɪmz; French grɑ̃d ˈdam/.
a usually elderly woman of dignified or aristocratic bearing.
a woman who is the doyenne of a specific field: a grande dame of the American theater.
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Origin of grande dame
1735–45; <French: literally, great lady
Words nearby grande dame
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for grande dame
grande dame
/ French (ɡrɑ̃d dam) /
noun
a woman regarded as the most experienced, prominent, or venerable member of her profession, etcthe grande dame of fashion
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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