lady

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a woman of refinement

   A chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady.

2. 2
   noun

   a polite name for any woman

   A nice lady at the library helped me.

3. 3
   noun

   A woman of breeding or higher class, a woman of authority.

   "I would like the dining room to be fully set by tonight; would you do so?" "Yes, my lady."

4. 4
   noun

   The feminine of lord, a lordess.

   Of all theſe bounds euen from this Line, to this, / With ſhadowie Forreſts, and with Champains rich’d / With plenteous Riuers, and wide-ſkirted Meades / We make thee Lady.

5. 5
   noun

   A woman: an adult female human.

   Please direct this lady to the soft furnishings department.

6. 6
   noun

   A polite reference or form of address to women.

   Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here today. Follow me, ladies!

7. 7
   noun

   Used to address a female.

   Hey, lady, move your car!

8. 8
   noun

   A wife or girlfriend; a sweetheart.

   It is my Lady, O it is my Loue, O that ſhe knew ſhe were, She ſpeakes, yet ſhe ſayes nothing, what of that?

Etymology

From Middle English lady, laddy, lafdi, lavedi, from Old English hlǣfdīġe (“mistress of a household, wife of a lord, lady”, literally “bread-kneader”), from hlāf (“bread, loaf”) + dǣġe (“kneader”), related to Old English dǣġe (“maker of dough”) (whence dey (“dairymaid”)). Compare also lord. More at loaf, dairy, dough. Unrelated to lad.