lady

la•dy

[[t]ˈleɪ di[/t]] n. pl. -dies, adj.

1) cvb a woman who is refined, polite, and well-spoken

2) cvb a woman of high social position or economic class

3) any woman; female (sometimes used in combination):

the lady who answered the phone; a saleslady[/ex]

4) off sts (used in direct address: often offensive in the singular):

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Lady, you're in my way[/ex]

5) wife:

The ambassador and his lady arrived late[/ex]

6) cvb sts Slang. a female lover or steady companion

7) (cap.) (in Great Britain) the proper title of any woman whose husband is higher in rank than baronet or knight, or who is the daughter of a nobleman not lower than an earl, often given by courtesy to the wife of a baronet or knight

8) why a woman who has proprietary rights or authority, as over a manor; female feudal superior

Compare lord 4)

9) (cap.)

Mary

10) why a woman who is the object of chivalrous devotion

11) (usu. cap.)

an attribute or abstraction personified as a woman:

Lady Fortune; Lady Virtue[/ex]

12) sts Sometimes Offensive. female:

a lady reporter[/ex]

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME ladi(e), earlier lavedi, OE hlǣfdīge, hlǣfdige, perh. orig. meaning “loaf-kneader”< hlāf loaf I usage: In the meanings “refined, polite woman” and “woman of high social position” the noun lady is the parallel of gentleman. As forms of address, both nouns are used in the plural (Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your cooperation), but only lady occurs in the singular. Except in chivalrous, literary, humorous or similar contexts (Lady, spurn me not), this singular is now usu. perceived as rude or at least insensitive: Where do you want the new air conditioner, lady? Other uses that are commonly disliked include lady in compounds or phrases referring to occupation or position (cleaning lady; forelady; saleslady) and as a modifier (lady artist; lady doctor). Increasingly, sex-neutral terms replace lady (cleaner; supervisor; salesperson or salesclerk). When it is relevant to specify the sex of the performer or practitioner, woman rather than lady is used, the parallel term being man, or male and female are used as modifiers: I need a saleswoman; Male doctors outnumber female doctors on the hospital staff by three to one. See also -person, -woman syn: See woman