madame
[muh-dam, -dahm, ma-; mad-uh m; French ma-dam]
- a French title of respect equivalent to “Mrs.”, used alone or prefixed to a woman's married name or title: Madame Curie.
- (in English) a title of respect used in speaking to or of an older woman, especially one of distinction, who is not of American or British origin. Abbreviation: Mme.
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Origin of madame
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for madame
Contemporary Examples
Lacey Noonan's A Gronking to Remember makes 50 Shades of Grey look like Madame Bovary in terms of its literary sophistication.
Madame Cézanne is ultimately about the figure in the portraits rather than the person, who remains a tantalizing enigma.
Last year, while filming the documentary “Madame Presidenta: Why Not U.S.?”
When Madame Tussauds unveiled their new waxwork of Kate, people queued up for a chance to feel “her” hair.
But Madame Clinton has never been very elegant in her statements.
What the D-Day Veteran Told Obama at the 70th Anniversary CommemorationChristopher Dickey
June 6, 2014
Historical Examples
Will madame be so good to enter our petit salon at the front, n'est-ce-pas?
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Je suis tres honore—I am very honoured to welcome you, madame.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
How much better the diagnosis of Madame Dacier, who is quoted by Lessing!
The Dramatic Values in PlautusWilton Wallace Blancke
An hour later, Hubert was walking round the house where Madame Sidonie lived.
The DreamEmile Zola
"Let me know the worst," Madame Permon said, with affected distress.
The Boy Life of NapoleonEugenie Foa
madame
- a married Frenchwoman: usually used as a title equivalent to Mrs, and sometimes extended to older unmarried women to show respect and to women of other nationalities
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Word Origin
C17: from French. See madam
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for madame
1590s, see madam, which is an earlier borrowing of the same French phrase. Originally a title of respect for a woman of rank, now given to any married woman. OED recommends madam as an English title, madame in reference to foreign women.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper