LADY

In English law. The title be- longing to the wife of a peer, and (by court- esy) the wife of a baronet or knight, and also to any woman, married or sole, whose father was a nobleman of a rank not lower than that of earl.

In English law. The title be longing to the wife of a peer, and (by cour tesy) the wife of a baronet or knight, and also to any woman, married or sole, whose father was a nobleman of a rank not lower than that of earl. ' = any cour’ In English law. The court of a lady of the manor.—Lady day. The 25th of March, the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In parts of Ire land, however, they so designate the 15th of August, the festival of the Assumption of the Virgin.—L % friend. The style of an ofr ficer of the glish house of commons, whose duty was to secure a suitable provision for the wife. when her husband sought a divorce b special act of parliament. The act of 185 abolished parliamentary divorces, and this office with them. :

In England, 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, though the title is given by courtesy also to the wives of baronets and knights. Cent. Dict. The word lady is derived from kloef dig (loaf day), which being applied to the mistress of a house came to be softened into the familiar term lady. On that day, it was the custom for the mistress of the manor to distribute bread to her poorer neigh- bors. Townsend, Manual of Dates, title Lady; 1 Chamb. Book of Days 154. In England, the recognised courtesy title of the daughters of dukes, marquises, and earls and of the wife of anyone entitled to the courtesy title of lord. It is the customary title of the wife of a knight or of a baronet; but the formal title of those ladies is Dame; and, except formally, a marchioness, vis- countess, or baroness is always spoken of or to as, Lady, instead of as the Marchioness, etc. Byrne. The word is derived from the Saxon hloef dig., or loaf-day, which words have in time been contracted into the present appellation. As to the original application of this expres- sion, it may be observed, that heretofore it was the fashion of those families of affluence, to live constantly at their mansions in the country, and that once a week, or oftener, the lady of the manor distributed to her poor neighbors, with her own hands, a certain quantity of bread; but the practice which gave rise to this title is now as little known as the meaning of it; however, it may be from that hospitable custom, that to this day the ladies in England serve the meat at their own tables. A woman of rank. The title properly belongs to the wives of knights, and of all degrees above them, except the wives of bishops. Wharton; Ency. Lond.

A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady. Wyclif (Gen. xvi. 8.). A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady. Shak. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart. The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor from his lady's eyes. Waller. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman. A wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith. The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; -- so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates. Ladies' man, a man who affects the society of ladies. -- Lady altar, an altar in a lady chapel. Shipley. -- Lady chapel, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. -- Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor. -- Lady crab (Zoöl.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States. -- Lady fern. (Bot.) See Female fern, under Female, and Illust. of Fern. -- Lady in waiting, a lady of the queen's household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen. -- Lady Mass, a Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. Shipley. Lady of the manor, a lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord. Lady's maid, a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady. Thackeray. -- Our Lady, the Virgin Mary.

Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike. "Some lady trifles." Shak.

The title for the (primary) female deity in female-centered religions. | The title for the (primary) female deity in female-centered religions. | The major supernatural figurehead in the Wiccan religion, a triune goddess split into the Mother, Maiden, and Crone.

The mistress of a household. | A woman of breeding or higher class, a woman of authority. | The feminine of lord, a lordess. | A title for someone married to a lord or gentleman. | A title that can be used instead of the formal terms of marchioness, countess, viscountess, or baroness. | A woman: an adult female human. | A polite reference or form of address to women. | Used to address a female. | A wife or girlfriend; a sweetheart. | A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound. | A queen (the playing card). | Who is a woman. | Alternative form of Lady. | gastric mill, the triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster, consisting of calcareous plates; so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. | A five-pound note. (Rhyming slang, Lady Godiva for fiver.) | A woman’s breast. | A queen.

To address as “lady”.