La"dy (lA"d&ybreve;), n.; pl. Ladies (-diz). [OE. ladi, læfdi, AS. hlÆfdige, hlÆfdie; AS. hlAf loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy. See Loaf, and cf. Lord.]
1.
A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household.
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.).
2.
A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell.
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . .
We make thee lady.
Shak.
3.
A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart.
The soldier here his wasted store supplies,
And takes new valor from his lady's eyes.
Waller.
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.
5.
A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman.
6.
A wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith.
7. (Zoöl.)
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.
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 (Zoöl.), 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.
© Webster 1913
La"dy, a.
Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike.
"Some lady trifles." Shak.
© Webster 1913