signorina

American  

[seen-yaw-ree-nuh, see-nyaw-ree-nah] / ˌsin jɔˈri nə, ˌsi njɔˈri nɑ /

noun

signorinas, plural signorine plural

1. a conventional Italian term of address or title of respect for a girl or unmarried woman, either used separately or prefixed to the name.

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signorina British  

/ ˌsiːnjɔːˈriːnə, siɲɲoˈrina /

noun

1. an unmarried Italian woman: a title of address equivalent to Miss when placed before a name or madam or miss when used alone

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• signorine
  plural
• signorinas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of signorina

1810–20; < Italian; diminutive of signora signora; see -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Angela played her part by being good, like a signorina should.

From Time Magazine Archive

Does the signorina wish me to take them up?

From The Front Yard by Woolson, Constance Fenimore

Neighbours came in and out, and looked curiously at the little golden-haired signorina, whose head seemed to make a spot of light in the dark dwelling.

From A Flight with the Swallows Little Dorothy's Dream by Marshall, Emma

Tommaso had done so, during the two days of his attendance; but then he presumed it to be at the instance of the signorina.

From The Finger of Fate A Romance by Reid, Mayne

Some of them were absolutely loaded with jewels of all kinds—pearls, topazes, rubies, turquoise-stones, even diamonds sparkling among the rest—the spoils drawn from the delicate fingers of many a rich signorina.

From The Finger of Fate A Romance by Reid, Mayne