lady

The mistress of a household.

A woman of breeding or higher class, a woman of authority.

"I would like the dining room to be fully set by tonight; would you do so?" "Yes, my lady."

‘[…] I remember a lady coming to inspect St. Mary's Home where I was brought up and seeing us all in our lovely Elizabethan uniforms we were so proud of, and bursting into tears all over us because “it was wicked to dress us like charity children”.[…]’.

The feminine of lord, a lordess.

Of all theſe bounds euen from this Line, to this, / With ſhadowie Forreſts, and with Champains rich’d / With plenteous Riuers, and wide-ſkirted Meades / We make thee Lady.

’T was the proudest hall in the North Countree, And never its gates might opened be, Save to lord or lady of high decree[…]

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.

To address as “lady”.

“[…]When I am dead ye’ll mind I said it, my leddy.” “Ah, Elspeth, but do not lady me; say Christine, just wee Christine.[…]”

“I thought you would never come, Lady Mary,” and he kissed her again. “Why will you persist in ladying me? Have I not told you—stop, now, will you?” and she pushed his mouth away. “Have I not told you as many times as you have seen me to call me Mary only?”

An aristocratic title for a woman.

Honor guests were Ladies Smith and Walker of Port Huron, Michigan. Lady Walker has been a Maccabee for 40 years.

An aristocratic title for a woman.

Would Lady Macbeth care for dessert?

How do you do, Lady Windermere?

An aristocratic title for a woman.

Sir John Smith and Lady Smith accompanied the ambassador.

Lady Russell was most anxiously zealous on the subject, and gave it much serious consideration. […] Herself, the widow of only a knight, she gave the dignity of a baronet all its due;

An aristocratic title for a woman.

He would feel that the mere idea of hearing a butler announce ‘Chief-Detective-Inspector and Lady Mary Parker’ would have something shocking about it.

An aristocratic title for a woman.

”[…] Excuse me, mum, wot might your married name be?” ”Lady Peter Wimsey,” said Harriet, feeling not at all sure that it was her name.