Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Used with Your, Her, or Their as a title and form of address for a woman or women holding the rank of lady.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The condition or rank of a lady.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The rank or position of a lady; -- given as a title (preceded by her or your).

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Term of respect for a woman of the peerage without using her title.
  • noun Formal form of address for a lady judge (as opposed to the informal "judge")

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a title used to address any peeress except a duchess

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • _turned out_ -- so I must set my head to work against the head of the head master, who is at this present moment inditing a letter to her ladyship, beginning, no doubt, with, '_I am sorry to be obliged to take up my pen_,' or, '_I am concerned to be under the necessity of sitting down to inform your ladyship_.'

    Tales and Novels — Volume 09 Maria Edgeworth 1808

  • "I am glad her ladyship is here," said Dr. Grey, looking painfully embarrassed, but speaking in a calm monotonous voice.

    The Semi-Attached Couple 1860

  • He answered that he did not know the book, and added, "But your ladyship is such a good judge of literature, I should leave the choice of books entirely to you."

    Prisons and Prisoners: Some Personal Experiences 1914

  • "Shall I step back and tell my lord your ladyship is ready?"

    The Semi-Attached Couple 1860

  • I am so sorry: I hope her ladyship is not dangerous.

    The Semi-Attached Couple 1860

  • "I am sure your ladyship is main good," replied the woman, taking the child from her.

    Zoe: The History of Two Lives 1845

  • 'Her ladyship is certainly very brilliant,' said Clarence, 'but I hope that Miss Portman did not overpower you.'

    Belinda 1801

  • Now, you understand, I am not in the least obliged to Lady Anne for her kindness to Helena, because it all goes under the head of obedience, in my imagination; and her ladyship is paid for it by an accession of character: she has the reward of having it said, "Oh, Lady Anne Percival is the best wife in the world!"

    Belinda 1801

  • 'As your ladyship is going to several parties this evening, I think it but charitable to set you right in these particulars, and I hope you will be so charitable as to contradict the report of Miss Hartley's having been Clarence's mistress.'

    Belinda 1801

  • If anything angers me now it is that 'ladyship' -- her to be my lady!

    Doctor Thorne Anthony Trollope 1848

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