Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A woman, specifically one with great control, authority or ownership.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: boss, head, leader
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A female head of household.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A female teacher.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: schoolmarm
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The other woman in an extramarital relationship, generally including sexual relations.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bit on the side, fancy woman, comaré, goomah
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A dominatrix.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A woman regarded with love and devotion; a sweetheart.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A married woman; a wife.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A respectful mode of address to a woman.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The jack in the game of bowls.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A female companion to a master (a man with control, authority or ownership).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Female equivalent of master.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: feminine, form-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Female equivalent of mister.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: feminine, form-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Used as the title of a married woman before her name. Now used only in the abbreviated form Mrs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Used as the title of a female dominant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: BDSM, lifestyle, sexuality
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Of a woman: to master; to learn or develop to a high degree of proficiency.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To act or take the role of a mistress.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a woman master who directs the work of others
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: employer
Narrower terms: chatelaine
noun
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: kept woman, fancy woman
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lover, woman, adult female
Narrower terms: concubine, courtesan, doxy, paramour, Braun, Eva Braun, Delilah
noun
a woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: schoolmarm, schoolma'am, schoolmistress
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: schoolteacher, school teacher
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *meǵh2-der.? Proto-Indo-European *meh2-der.? Proto-Italic *magisteros Latin magister, magistrum Old French maistre Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-ih2der. Ancient Greek -ῐᾰ (-ĭă) Ancient Greek -ισσα (-issa)bor. Latin -issader. Old French -esse Old French maistressebor. Middle English maistresse English mistress From Middle English maistresse, from Old French maistresse (whence French maîtresse), feminine of maistre (“master”). By surface analysis, mist(e)r + -ess.
Across languages
221 source translations are retained for this English entry.
