lady English · revision 3150

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 750, Cynewulf|origins=ang hlāf}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈleɪ.di/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lavedi]], lafdi, ladi,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|hlǣfdīġe|t=mistress of a household, wife of a lord]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) apparently literally “one who kneads bread”,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) a compound of [[m|ang|hlāf|t=bread]], the source of [[loaf]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and -dīġe, from a Germanic base meaning “to knead”,^(COED 2004)^(NODE 1998) related to Old English dǣġe “kneader of bread, maid”, the first part of [[dairy]], and to [[dough]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The male counterpart is [[lord]], Old English hlāfweard “keeper of bread”.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline) The Century Dictionary found this etymology improbable and the OED not very plausible in sense, but no one has a better explanation.^(Etymonline) The word is peculiar to English,^(Hoad 1986) and is not found elsewhere except as a borrowing from English.^(Etymonline) The medial -f- disappeared in the 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English hlǣfdige is found about 750 in Cynewulf's ''Elene'',^(Barnhart 1988) and hlāfdīe, “mistress of a household”, before 830;^(Barnhart 1988) the OED's first example of the female head of a household is from about 825.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Anglo-Saxon times a lady was a powerful woman who ruled a household and supplied its staple food.^(Cresswell 2021) She was also a woman to whom obedience or feudal homage was due, the wife of a lord, and, from Old English times, the Virgin Mary.^(NODE 1998)^(OED 1989) From the genitive hlǣfdigan, which in Middle English merged with the nominative, ''lady-'' often stands for “(Our) Lady's”, as in [[ladybug]] and ''Lady Day'', the feast of the Annunciation (late 13th century).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) A woman of superior position in society is from about 1200,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a woman chosen as the object of chivalrous love from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Ladylike'' is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) but a woman whose manners befit high rank is from 1861,^(Etymonline) and ''lady'' as an address to any woman is common from the 1890s.^(Etymonline) ''Ladies' man'' is by the 1690s.^(Etymonline) ''Ladies who lunch'' comes from a 1970 song by Stephen Sondheim.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 750 – Old English hlǣfdige.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 825 – female head of a household.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 900 – the Virgin Mary.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – a woman of high position.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 13th century – ''Lady Day''.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – object of chivalrous love.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – ''ladylike''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1600 – verb, ''lady it''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1861 – a refined woman.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890s – an address to any woman.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A woman, especially when spoken of politely.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A well-mannered and considerate woman; the female counterpart of a [[gentleman]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A woman of high social position.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(British)'' The title of a peeress or of the wife of a [[knight]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A woman who is the head of a household, or to whom homage is due.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''Our Lady'': The [[Virgin Mary]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''ladies'': A women's [[toilet]].^(MW Collegiate)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ladyhood]]

+ * [[ladyish]]

+ * [[ladyishly]]

+ * [[ladyishness]]

+ * [[ladyless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lord]]

+ * [[loaf]]

+ * [[dough]]

+ * [[dairy]]

+ * [[ladybug]]

+ * [[ladybird]]

+ * [[ladyship]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Lady'' is properly used as a parallel to gentleman, to stress expected standards of courtesy;^(AHD) as a plain synonym for woman it can sound condescending, and many people object to it in phrases such as ''lady doctor''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}