MADAM

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A woman of refinement

Example:

a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady

Synonyms:

dame; gentlewoman; lady; ma'am; madam

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("madam" is a kind of...):

adult female; woman (an adult female person (as opposed to a man))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "madam"):

grande dame (a middle-aged or elderly woman who is stylish and highly respected)

madame (title used for a married Frenchwoman)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A woman who runs a house of prostitution

Synonyms:

brothel keeper; madam

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("madam" is a kind of...):

businesswoman (a female businessperson)

Credits

Context examples:

“Quite so, madam,” said Holmes in his soothing way.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It is the refection, madam,” said he.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You understand, madam, that your husband will be arrested and tried for the death of the man who lies before us?

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"My dear madam," said Lady Middleton, "recollect what you are saying."

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

"I had a little girl once, with eyes like these. God bless you, my dear! Good day, madam." And away he went, in a great hurry.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She is nothing to me, compared with you; and she was in full time to hear her father say, My dear madam, this must not be.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“No, madam!”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

That, madam, is what I wish you to say.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

You can have no reason, I imagine, madam, said he, addressing his mother, for wishing Fanny not to be of the party, but as it relates to yourself, to your own comfort.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“There is no mystery, my dear madam,” said he, smiling.