madam

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a woman of refinement
  2. noun a woman who runs a house of prostitution

Etymology

From Middle English madame, from Old French madame, from ma (“my”) + dame (“lady”), from post-classical Latin mea domina. Doublet of Madonna.

In classic literature

Synonyms

dame, ma'am, lady, gentlewoman

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