Donnan.
/ˈdɒnə/, U.S. /ˈdɑnə/ A lady; a title of honour or courtesy for an Italian or (instead of doña or dona) a Spanish or Portuguese lady. prima, seconda donna: the principal, or the second, female singer in an opera: see prima donna v.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > [noun] > lady
ladyc1225
duchess1393
dame1530
Dona1622
Donna1670
grande dame1775
ladyship1785
señora1818
milady1824
prima donna1834
senhora1841
seigneuress1888
1670 S. Wilson Lassels's Voy. Italy (new ed.) i. 96 To go like the Donnas of Spayne.
1740 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 25 Jan. (1966) II. 170 They are all well receiv'd by the Gentil Donnas.
1816 Ld. Byron Let. 24 Dec. (1976) V. 148 My ‘Donna’ whom I spoke of in my former epistle.
1818 Ld. Byron Beppo xxxi. 16 The ‘prima donna's’ tuneful heart would bound.
1880 G. Grove Dict. Music I. 457/1 A distinguished seconda donna..of Handel's company.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1670