Lady

Lady

The word lady is a polite term for a woman, specifically the female equivalent to, or spouse of, a lord or gentleman, and in many contexts a term for any adult woman. Once relating specifically to women of high social class or status, over the last 300 years it has spread to embrace all adult women, though in some contexts may still be used to evoke a concept of "ladylike" standards of behaviour.

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Famous quotes containing the word lady:

    “A lady dying of diabetes
    Listened to the radio,
    Catching the lesser dithyrambs.
    So heaven collects its bleating lambs.”
    —Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)

    “London Bridge is broken down,
    Dance o’er my lady lee,
    London Bridge is broken down,
    With a gay lady.
    How shall we build it up again?
    Dance o’er my lady lee,”
    —Unknown. London Bridge (l. 1–6)

    “I declare, on my soul and conscience, that the attainment of power, or of a great name in literature, seemed to me an easier victory than a success with some young, witty, and gracious lady of high degree.”
    —HonorĂ© De Balzac (1799–1850)