释义 |
madam /madˈəm/ noun (pl madˈams; in the second sense, Mesdames /mā-dämˈ/)- A courteous form of address to a woman, esp an elderly or married one, or any female customer in a shop, restaurant, etc
- (with cap) the form of address to a woman in a formal letter
- A woman of social rank or station
- Prefixed to an official title, as Madam Chairman, etc
- The female head of a household (archaic)
- A formidable woman
- A capricious or autocratic woman
- A general term of reproach for a woman
- A precocious young girl
- A concubine (obsolete)
- The woman in charge of a brothel
- (with cap) prefixed to a name instead of Mrs or Miss (in USA to distinguish mother-in-law from daughter-in-law; obsolete)
transitive verb To address as madam ORIGIN: Fr ma my, and dame lady, from L mea domina madame /ma-dämˈ, madˈəm/ noun (usu with cap) (pl mesdames /mā-dämˈ, -damˈ/) - Used instead of Mrs as a title for a Frenchwoman or French-speaking woman
- Extended to any woman in an artistic profession, or one regarded as exotic, such as a palm-reader
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