Lady

LA'DY, the translation of two Hebrew words, one the feminine of "mighty man," and usually rendered "mistress," as distinguished from "servant." Gen 16:4, Isa 16:8-9; 2 Kgs 5:3; Ps 123:2; Prov 30:23; Isa 24:2. It is applied to Babylon as mistress of nations. Isa 47:5, Isa 47:7. The other word is rendered "ladies," Jud 5:29; Esth 1:18; "princess," 1 Kgs 11:3:Lam 1:1; Isa 49:23; "queens" (margin, "princesses"). In the N.T. it occurs in 2 John 5; as a title or perhaps a proper name, kuri'a.

LA'DY, the translation of two Hebrew words, one the feminine of "mighty man," and usually rendered "mistress," as distinguished from "servant." Gen 16:4, Isa 16:8-9; 2 Kgs 5:3; Ps 123:2; Prov 30:23; Isa 24:2. It is applied to Babylon as mistress of nations. Isa 47:5, Isa 47:7. The other word is rendered "ladies," Jud 5:29; Esth 1:18; "princess," 1 Kgs 11:3:Lam 1:1; Isa 49:23; "queens" (margin, "princesses"). In the N.T. it occurs in 2 John 5; as a title or perhaps a proper name, kuri'a.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. 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.).

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman.

6. A wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith.

7. 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.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

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