'Lady in waiting' definitions:

Definition of 'Lady in waiting'

From: GCIDE
  • Lady \La"dy\ (l[=a]"d[y^]), n.; pl. Ladies (l[=a]"d[i^]z). [OE. ladi, l[ae]fdi, AS. hl[=ae]fdige, hl[=ae]fdie; AS. hl[=a]f loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy. See Loaf, and cf. Lord.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. [1913 Webster]
  • Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou? The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady. --Wyclif (Gen. xvi. 8.). [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." --Lowell. [1913 Webster]
  • Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart. [1913 Webster]
  • The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor from his lady's eyes. --Waller. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A wife; -- not now in approved usage. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Hence: Any woman; as, a lounge for ladies; a cleaning lady; also used in combination; as, saleslady. [PJC]
  • 8. (Zool.) The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; -- so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates. [1913 Webster]
  • Ladies' man, a man who affects the society of ladies.
  • Lady altar, an altar in a lady chapel. --Shipley.
  • Lady chapel, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
  • Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor.
  • Lady crab (Zool.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States.
  • Lady fern. (Bot.) See Female fern, under Female, and Illust. of Fern.
  • Lady in waiting, a lady of the queen's household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen.
  • Lady Mass, a Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. --Shipley.
  • Lady of the manor, a lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord.
  • Lady's maid, a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady. --Thackeray.
  • Our Lady, the Virgin Mary. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Lady in waiting'