Sekirov Dictionary

madam

/ˈmædəm/

noun 6
verb 2
forms 8

noun6

•
a word showing respect to a woman, used when speaking or writing to her
- Mrs Grey wondered if the outfit she was trying on made her look fat. The sales assistant just said, “It suits you, madam”.
- Later, Mrs Grey was sitting in her favourite tea shop. “Would madam like the usual cream cakes and patisserie with her tea?” the waitress asked.
(Singapore) A polite form of address and title, abbreviated Mdm, used before a (usually middle-aged) adult or elderly woman's surname, full name or given name if she does not have a family name.
•
A woman who runs a brothel, particularly one that specializes in finding prostitutes for rich and important clients.
- After she grew too old to work as a prostitute, she became a madam.
•
(informal) A conceited or quarrelsome girl.
- Selina kept pushing and shoving during musical chairs. The nursery school teacher said she was a bad-tempered little madam.
The mistress of a household.
(slang, offensive) A hated or contemptuous woman; used as a general term of abuse

verb2

•
To address as "madam".
- Madam me no Madam, but learn to retrench your vvords; and say Mam; as yes Mam, and no Mam, as other Ladies VVomen do. Madam! 'tis a year in pronouncing. — 1668
•
(rare) To be a madam; to run (a brothel).
- Margaret Long’s freudianized Louisville does not have the local color of the famous Lexington bordello madamed by the late Belle Breezing (in the process of being fictionized); […] — 1953

forms

madamed · madammed · madaming · madamming · madams · Madams · Mesdames · mesdames

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