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.
Read more about Lady: Etymology and Usage
Famous quotes containing the word lady:
“and you said
that I looked almost like
a puritan lady and what
I remember best is that
the door to your room was
the door to mine.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“I knew you forever and you were always old,
soft white lady of my heart. Surely you would scold
me for sitting up late, reading your letters....”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“Strictly speaking, there is but one real evil: I mean acute pain. All other complaints are so considerably diminished by time that it is plain the grief is owing to our passion, since the sensation of it vanishes when that is over.”
—Mary Wortley, Lady Montagu (1689–1762)