| 释义 |
ladyship, n.|ˈleɪdɪʃɪp|
Forms: see lady and -ship. Also 7–8 colloq. la'ship.
1. The condition of being a lady; rank as a lady.
a1225Ancr. R. 100 Ȝif þu hauest uorȝiten nu þi wurðfule lefdischipe,—go & folewe þeos geat. c1230Hali Meid. 7 And trukie for a mon of lam þe heuenliche lauerd & lutlin her lafdischipe. 13..E.E. Allit. P. A. 577 More haf I of ioye & blysse here-inne, Of ladyschyp gret & lyuez blom. 1623Massinger Bondman iii. iii, How dost thou like Thy ladyship, Zanthia? 1771Contempl. Man II. 152 This Lady did not enjoy her Title long—she died in the fifth Year of her Ladyship. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits Wks. 1874 II. 134 What facility and plenteousness of knighthood, lordship, ladyship, royalty, loyalty! 1874Trollope Lady Anna iv. 26 He hated the countess-ship of the countess, and the ladyship of the Lady Anna.
2. The personality of a lady. In her ladyship, your ladyship, a respectful substitute for she, you, referring to a lady; in mod. use only to one whose rank is designated by the titular prefix ‘Lady’. Also used sarcastically.
c1374Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 191 She..drof hym forthe, vnnethe list her knowe That he was servaunt vn to hir ladishippe. c1400Destr. Troy 3352 Ne trawes not, tru lady, þat I take wolde Thy ladyship to losse, ne in lust holde. a1400–50Alexander 3715, I leue it to ȝour ladyschip þis lange noȝt vnknawen. a1500Flower & Leaf lxxi, Yet I would pray Your ladiship..That I might knowe..What that these knightes be in rich armour. 1551Crowley Pleas. & Pain Ded., I thought it my duty to dedicate the same vnto youre Ladishyppes name. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. i. ii. 120 If it please your Ladiships, you may see the end. 1650Nicholas Papers (Camden) 174 Lord Jermyn in a jeering manner, as her ladyshipp conceaved, told her he hoped now shortly Sir Edward Herbert would returne to Paris. 1700Congreve Way of World ii. v, O Mem, your Laship staid to peruse a Pecquet of Letters. 1711Addison Spect. No. 37 ⁋1, I waited upon her Ladyship pretty early in the morning. a1839Praed Poems (1865) II. 34 Her ladyship is in a huff.
fig.1595Shakes. John iii. i. 119 Thou Fortunes Champion, that do'st neuer fight But when her humorous Ladiship is by To teach thee safety.
†b. concr. = lady. Obs.
1390Gower Conf. II. 301 My sone, of that unkindship, The which toward thy ladiship, Thou pleignest, for she woll the nought, Thou art to blamen of thy thought.
c. nonce-use. One who is called ‘her ladyship’.
1784Cowper Task ii. 386 Constant at routs, familiar with a round Of ladyships, a stranger to the poor.
†3. Kindness or beneficence befitting a mistress.
1390Gower Conf. I. 128 This maide..To whom this lady hath behote Of ladiship all that she can To vengen her upon this man. Ibid. III. 66 Tho quod the quene..I wol do the such ladiship, Wherof thou shalt for evermo Be riche.
4. A district governed by a lady. nonce-use.
1709Steele Tatler No. 46 ⁋3 All that long Course of Building is under particular Districts or Ladiships, after the Manner of Lordships in other Parts.
Hence ˈladyship v. trans. (nonce-wd.), to give the title of ‘Your Ladyship’ to. Also to ladyship it.
1813E. S. Barrett Heroine (1815) III. 9 ‘Ladyship! Oh, her ladyship!’ and away he cantered, ladyshipping it, till he was out of hearing. 1820Hermit in London IV. 165 He so ladyshiped Lady ― what's her ugly name, that it was quite disgusting. |