lady

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A polite word for a woman.

   A nice lady at the library helped me.

2. 2
   noun

   A polite way to address or refer to women, especially in a group.

   Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here today.

3. 3
   noun

   A woman who behaves with good manners and refinement, or one of high social class.

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

Common collocations

• a young lady Adjective + noun
• an old lady Adjective + noun
• an elderly lady Adjective + noun

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.

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