damsel English · revision 1577

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdæm.zəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|damisele]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[der|xno|dameisele]] and [[fro|damoiselle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la-vul|*dominicella|t=young noblewoman]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a diminutive of [[la|domina|t=lady]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The French word was modified by association with ''dame'' from earlier ''donsele''.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[dame]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A maid in waiting (1199), and a young unmarried lady of noble or gentle birth (1292).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was gradually extended as a respectful term for young unmarried women of any rank,^(OED 1989) and from about 1380 it could mean any girl or maiden.^(OED 1989) It became archaic until the romantic poets revived it,^(Etymonline) along with the variant ''damozel'' used by Spenser.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1199 – a maid in waiting.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1292 – a young lady of gentle birth.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * about 1380 – any young unmarried woman.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1815 – ''damselfly''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(archaic or literary)'' A young unmarried woman, originally one of noble birth; a [[maiden]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[damselfish]]

+ * [[damselfly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dame]]

+ * [[mademoiselle]]

+ * [[dominion]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}