Madonnan.
/məˈdɒnə/, U.S. /məˈdɑnə/ 1. † b. An Italian woman. Also (in extended use): a loose or flirtatious woman, a prostitute. Obsolete.
a. A respectful (or mock-respectful) form of address, usually to an Italian woman (also used in literal renderings of Italian speech) (now rare); similarly as a title preceding a name.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [noun] > as form of address
womanc1225
madamc1300
sisterc1450
niece1488
girl1562
Madonna1584
young woman1683
princess1709
Sitt1838
babe1911
modom1920
mama1979
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for woman of rank > for foreign woman of rank
Madonna1584
Dona1622
begum1634
khanum1824
khatun1834
sheikha1853
1584 R. Wilson Three Ladies of London i. B ij b Merca. Madona, me be a Merchant and be cald senior Merkadorus.
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. F4 v They drawe out a dinner with sallets,..and make Madona Nature their best Caterer.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. v. 62 Good Madona, why mournst thou? View more context for this quotation
a1627 T. Middleton More Dissemblers besides Women v. i, in 2 New Playes (1657) 67 Crotch... (Here they sing Pricksong) How like you this Madona [printed Madova]? Celia. Pretty.
1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour v. ii. sig. L3v Gracious Maddona, Noble Generall, Brave Captaines and my quondam rivalls wear 'em.
1819 P. B. Shelley Let. 28 Oct. (1964) II. 131 Be of good cheer, Madonna mia, all will go well.
1827 T. B. Macaulay Song in Misc. Writ. (1860) II. 417 Oh stay, Madonna! stay.
1874 R. L. Stevenson Let. in J. Pope Hennessy RLS iii. 72 You will see, dear madonna, that I am very happy.
1884 H. James En Province in Atlantic Montly Apr. 523/2 Petrarch..must have been very self-supporting, and Madonna Laura must indeed have been much to him.
1908 E. Wallace Council of Justice (1985) v. 56 Starque..rose to greet her... ‘Madonna,’ he murmured, and kissed her hand.
1969 P. Y. Carter Mr. Campion's Farthing xi. 101 ‘Take my advice and do it now.’ He..shook his head. ‘In a minute, madonna.’
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [noun]
wifeeOE
womaneOE
womanOE
queanOE
brideOE
viragoc1000
to wifeOE
burdc1225
ladyc1225
carlinec1375
stotc1386
marec1387
pigsneyc1390
fellowa1393
piecec1400
femalea1425
goddessa1450
fairc1450
womankindc1450
fellowessa1500
femininea1513
tega1529
sister?1532
minikinc1540
wyec1540
placket1547
pig's eye1553
hen?1555
ware1558
pussy?a1560
jade1560
feme1566
gentlewoman1567
mort1567
pinnacea1568
jug1569
rowen1575
tarleather1575
mumps1576
skirt1578
piga1586
rib?1590
puppy1592
smock1592
maness1594
sloy1596
Madonna1602
moll1604
periwinkle1604
Partlet1607
rib of man1609
womanship?1609
modicum1611
Gypsy1612
petticoata1616
runniona1616
birda1627
lucky1629
she-man1640
her1646
lost rib1647
uptails1671
cow1696
tittup1696
cummer17..
wife1702
she-woman1703
person1704
molly1706
fusby1707
goody1708
riding hood1718
birdie1720
faggot1722
piece of goods1727
woman body1771
she-male1776
biddy1785
bitch1785
covess1789
gin1790
pintail1792
buer1807
femme1814
bibi1816
Judy1819
a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823
wifie1823
craft1829
shickster?1834
heifer1835
mot1837
tit1837
Sitt1838
strap1842
hay-bag1851
bint1855
popsy1855
tart1864
woman's woman1868
to deliver the goods1870
chapess1871
Dona1874
girl1878
ladykind1878
mivvy1881
dudess1883
dudette1883
dudine1883
tid1888
totty1890
tootsy1895
floozy1899
dame1902
jane1906
Tom1906
frail1908
bit of stuff1909
quim1909
babe1911
broad1914
muff1914
manhole1916
number1919
rossie1922
bit1923
man's woman1928
scupper1935
split1935
rye mort1936
totsy1938
leg1939
skinny1941
Richard1950
potato1957
scow1960
wimmin1975
womyn1975
womxn1991
the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of Europe > the Italians > [noun] > native or inhabitant of Italy > woman
Madonna1602
signora1607
signorina?1750
donzella1833
1602 T. Dekker Blurt Master-Constable sig. C2 Hip. Well Sir, you know..the flea-bitten fac'd Ladie. Doit. Oh Sir, the freckle cheeke Madona, I know her Signior, as well—Hip. Not as I doe, I hope Sir.
a1640 J. Fletcher et al. Faire Maide of Inne iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Fffffff/2 A dancer..that by teaching great Madonnas to foot it, has miraculously purchast a ribanded wastcote.
1655 J. Shirley Gentleman of Venice (1655) v. ii. 64 De'e think to mount Madonas here, and not Pay for the sweet Carreere.
1709 Tatler 4 Mar. 1/2 His Pocket-Books..are admirable for registring the Lodgings of Madona's.
2.
Thesaurus »
Categories »
a. The Virgin Mary. Usually with the.
b. A picture or statue (esp. Italian) of the Virgin Mary.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > representation in art > [noun] > an artistic representation > religious
angelc1425
Madonna1648
adoration1662
Buddha1829
nativity scene1855
Holy Family1875
Pantocrator1911
Sacred Heart1931
1648 J. Raymond Itinerary Voy. Italy 149 In the midst is a Madonna, with a Lampe perpetually burning.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 224 A faire Madona of Pietro Peruggino, painted on the Wall.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1645 (1955) II. 374 The miraculous shrine of the Madona which Pope Paule the 3d, brought barefooted to the place.
1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 29 May (1965) I. 361 They shew'd me..a Picture of the Virgin Mary, drawn by the hand of St. Luke..the finest Madona of Italy is not more famous for her Miracles.
1816 Ld. Byron Siege of Corinth xxx. 48 Madonna's face upon him shone, Painted in heavenly hues above.
1829 M. M. Sherwood Lady of Manor VII. xxxii. 208 A beautiful Madona [sic] in white marble which I had seen in a church in Rome.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Mariana in South (rev. ed.) ii, in Poems (new ed.) I. 83 ‘Ave Mary’ was her moan, ‘Madonna, sad is night and morn’.
1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. ii. 9 A very early painting of the Madonna and child.
1853 J. A. Froude Eng. Forgotten Worthies in Short Stud. (ed. 2) 305 Whose pretences to religion might rank with the devotion of an Italian bandit to the Madonna.
1855 R. Browning One Word More ii Rafael made a century of sonnets,..Else he only used to draw Madonnas.
1877 D. M. Wallace Russia iv. 98 Icons are pictorial half-length representations of the Saviour, of the Madonna, or of a saint.
1903 R. Fry Let. 29 June (1972) I. 210 I am speaking of the Quattrocento Madonna with two angels kneeling beneath.
1937 Burlington Mag. July 18/2 The Madonna Enthroned in the central field of the Antwerp altarpiece belongs to the Hodegetria type.
1970 A. P. Oppé Raphael ii. 29 The irregularity of Raphael's advance is shown in the two pictures of the Madonna.
1989 Mod. Painters Autumn 54/3 The Dean of Salisbury..had always wanted a Madonna for Salisbury.
c. Madonna mia int. [ < Italian mia my: attested occasionally as a phrase in Italian from mid 20th cent.] an exclamation of surprise or strong emotion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection]
whatOE
well, wellOE
avoyc1300
ouc1300
ay1340
lorda1393
ahaa1400
hillaa1400
whannowc1450
wow1513
why?1520
heydaya1529
ah1538
ah me!a1547
fore me!a1547
o me!a1547
what the (also a) goodyear1570
precious coals1576
Lord have mercy (on us)1581
good heavens1588
whau1589
coads1590
ay me!1591
my stars!a1593
Gods me1595
law1598
Godso1600
to go out1600
coads-nigs1608
for mercy!a1616
good stars!1615
mercy on us (also me, etc.)!a1616
gramercy1617
goodness1623
what next?1662
mon Dieu1665
heugh1668
criminy1681
Lawd1696
the dickens1697
(God, etc.) bless my heart1704
alackaday1705
(for) mercy's sake!1707
my1707
deuce1710
gracious1712
goodly and gracious1713
my word1722
my stars and garters!1758
lawka1774
losha1779
Lord bless me (also you, us, etc.)1784
great guns!1795
mein Gott1795
Dear me!1805
fancy1813
well, I'm sure!1815
massy1817
Dear, dear!1818
to get off1818
laws1824
Mamma mia1824
by crikey1826
wisha1826
alleleu1829
crackey1830
Madonna mia1830
indeed1834
to go on1835
snakes1839
Jerusalem1840
sapristi1840
oh my days1841
tear and ages1841
what (why, etc.) in time?1844
sakes alive!1846
gee willikers1847
to get away1847
well, to be sure!1847
gee1851
Great Scott1852
holy mackerel!1855
doggone1857
lawsy1868
my wig(s)!1871
gee whiz1872
crimes1874
yoicks1881
Christmas1882
hully gee1895
'ullo1895
my hat!1899
good (also great) grief!1900
strike me pink!1902
oo-er1909
what do you know?1909
cripes1910
coo1911
zowiec1913
can you tie that?1918
hot diggety1924
yeow1924
ziggety1924
stone (or stiffen) the crows1930
hullo1931
tiens1932
whammo1932
po po po1936
how about that?1939
hallo1942
brother1945
tie that!1948
surprise1953
wowee1963
yikes1971
never1974
to sod off1976
whee1978
mercy1986
yipes1989
1830 Lady Morgan France 1829–30 I. 341 Madonna mia! you make me start!
1973 T. Davies When Moon Rises ii. ii. 100 Madonna mia, just let me catch sight of one of those detestable Tedeschi and see what I shall do.
1990 F. Paci Stone Garden in L. Hutcheon & M. Richmond Other Solitudes (1990) 227 You should've seen Markie's eyes when that dog bit into him! Madonna mia.
d. gen. A woman regarded as resembling the Virgin Mary, esp. with respect to chastity.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > chastity > [noun] > of a woman > woman
vestal1847
Madonnaa1930
a1930 D. H. Lawrence Last Poems (1932) 133 The wisp of modern black mantilla Made her half Madonna, half Astarte.
1968 Brit. Jrnl. Psychiatry 114 968/2 At one and the same time woman is a sexually desired wife, a tabooed Madonna and a dangerous Circe.
1991 M. Mackie Gender Relations Canada ii. 25/2 Images of women as witches or madonnas omit men's interest in women as gratifiers of their sexual needs.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > other specific styles of hair > for women
cockernony1701
Madonna1829
Madonna braid1829
pompadour1872
marumage1880
marcel-waving1904
turban swathe1912
up-do1938
earphones1940
pageboy1976
1829 T. H. Bayly 50 Lyrical Ballads 61 I've tried all styles of hair dressing, Madonnas, frizzes, crops.
a1849 J. Keegan Legends & Poems (1907) 267 The grown girls..mostly wore their hair in plaits and snood, or..in that beautiful and classic style termed the Madonna.
Compounds
C1. (Esp. with reference to pictures of the Madonna and the hairstyle.)† Madonna braid n. Obsolete† Madonna style n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > other specific styles of hair > for women
cockernony1701
Madonna1829
Madonna braid1829
pompadour1872
marumage1880
marcel-waving1904
turban swathe1912
up-do1938
earphones1940
pageboy1976
1829 Souvenir II. 317/2 The hair is beautifully arranged in a Madonna braid in front.
Madonna coiffure n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun]
headc1450
coiffure1633
tiff1703
cock1768
top1780
Madonna style1818
Madonna front1849
hairstyle1871
Madonna coiffure1890
haircut1895
do1918
hairdo1932
1890 Pall Mall Gaz. 26 Nov. 1/3 Her fair hair..is simply parted in the centre, in the way which is now often playfully called the ‘madonna coiffure’.
Madonna face n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > types of face > [noun]
muskin1530
vizard1568
monkey-face?1589
chitty-face1601
angel face1605
smock-face1605
fish-facea1625
platter face1631
ammunition face1649
horn-facea1668
baby facea1684
crab face1706
hatchet face1707
splatter-face1707
paddock-face1724
pudding face1748
dough face1755
Madonna face1790
company face1798
moon-face1822
pug-facea1845
puss1844
frog-face1872
bun-face1913
bitch face1969
1790 H. M. Williams Julia I. i. 3 She had a madona face.
1896 C. G. D. Roberts Forge in Forest xx. 259 Pale and sad as was the exquisite Madonna face, her lips were marvellously red.
Madonna front n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun]
headc1450
coiffure1633
tiff1703
cock1768
top1780
Madonna style1818
Madonna front1849
hairstyle1871
Madonna coiffure1890
haircut1895
do1918
hairdo1932
1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xvi. 143 She returned a rather elderly character, with a Madonna front and a melancholy countenance.
1966 J. Stevens Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing & Wigmaking 93/2 Madonna front, a postiche for women in which the hair is parted in the centre and worn straight, or nearly straight.
Madonna lid n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [noun] > eyelid
breec890
eye-breeOE
eyelida1200
browc1200
lid (of the eye)c1220
palpebre?a1425
window1593
brow-lid1594
fin1604
under-lid1611
palpebra1634
cilia1715
eye-peeper1786
Madonna lid1863
eyewinker1923
1863 T. Woolner My Beautiful Lady 95 O wan girl-mother with Madonna lids Downcast.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun]
headc1450
coiffure1633
tiff1703
cock1768
top1780
Madonna style1818
Madonna front1849
hairstyle1871
Madonna coiffure1890
haircut1895
do1918
hairdo1932
1818 La Belle Assemblée Feb. 86/2 The hair is worn more in the Madona style.
C2.
Madonna blue n. a shade of deep blue.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > blue or blueness > [noun] > deep blue
powder blue1628
zaffre1662
ultramarine1695
smalt1775
ultramarine blue (or colour)1781
royal blue1782
smalt-blue1794
mazarine blue1803
blue feldspar1804
lazulite1807
cobalt1835
Vienna blue1835
Venetian bluec1840
bleu-de-roi1848
gentian blue1848
gentian1854
mazarine1857
night-blue1865
lapis lazuli1870
Reckitt's blue1877
royal1885
Littler's blue1904
delphine1909
delphinium1923
Madonna blue1932
1930 A. Maerz & M. R. Paul Dict. Color 198/2 1917 Madonna.]
1932 A. Christie Peril at End House vii. 85 She was wearing a gown of Madonna blue.
1935 Times 2 Oct. 17/4 A Madonna-blue lining.
1971 N. Freeling Over High Side ii. 110 Twilight had fallen, of a pure madonna blue.
Madonna-braided adj. (of the hair) arranged in smooth braids on each side of the face, after the manner of Italian representations of the Madonna.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [adjective] > braided or plaited
tressedc1386
plaited1582
broided1603
trammelled1609
entrammelled1611
pigtailed1725
Madonna-wise1830
Madonna-braided1849
French-braided1956
braided-
1849 W. E. Aytoun Buried Flower in Poems 83 Raven locks, Madonna-braided O'er her sweet and blushing face.
Madonna lily n. a lily of the eastern Mediterranean, Lilium candidum, long cultivated for its fragrant, pure white flowers and often depicted in pictures of the Madonna.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > lily and allied flowers > lilies
lily971
lily-flower1340
martagon1440
delucea1450
red lily1531
purple lily1578
mountain lily1597
gold lily1629
Turk's cap1672
turn-cap1688
Juno's rose1706
orange lily1731
Canada lily1771
Japan lily1813
tiger-lily1824
Annunciation lily1853
Easter lily1860
golden-rayed lily1865
scarlet martagon1867
Japanese lily1870
Madonna lily1877
Bermuda lily1882
thimble lily1883
panther lily1884
triplet lily1884
turban-lily1884
Mary-lily1893
tiger1901
leopard lily1902
lilium1902
swamp lily1902
Washington lily1911
Shasta lily1915
regal lily1916
regale1920
Oregon lily1925
1877 E. S. Phelps Story of Avis ix. 172 An exquisite motion which an artist..would not have wasted..on anything less than a Madonna lily.
1902 Daily Chron. 1 Apr. 2/1 Large branches of Madonna lilies.
1963 W. Blunt Of Flowers & Village 173 My whole room is scented by a great pot of Madonna lilies.
1986 Pract. Gardening Dec. 15/1 The Madonna lily, (Lilium candidum), named for its purity, is featured in a huge number of flower paintings from Victorian times and earlier.
Derivatives
Maˈdonnahood n. the character or quality of a Madonna.
ΚΠ
1860 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters V. 236 Brown gleams of gipsy Madonnahood from Murillo.
Maˈdonnaish adj. like a Madonna.
ΚΠ
1828 C. Lamb Old China in Elia 2nd Ser. 116 That pretty insipid half-Madona-ish chit.]
1891 Athenæum 24 Oct. 547/1 She is too Madonnaish in one way, too languishing and sentimental in another.
Maˈdonna-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > Mary > [adjective]
Marian1701
Madonna-like1844
Marianic1845
Marial1904
the world > people > person > woman > [adjective] > characteristic of > specific
Madonna-like1844
1844 E. A. Poe Spectacles in Compl. Wks. (1902) V. 181 The Madonna-like and matronly air of the face.
1895 G. B. Shaw Let. 20 Mar. (1965) I. 502 You must..be sweet..and Madonna like.
1909 M. Diver Candles in Wind i. iv. 40 The soft brown hair..giving a Madonna-like air of purity to the oval face.
1966 ‘R. Standish’ Widow Hack vi. 65 She has large, generous features which compose themselves in a Madonna-like serenity.
Maˈdonna-wise adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [adjective] > braided or plaited
tressedc1386
plaited1582
broided1603
trammelled1609
entrammelled1611
pigtailed1725
Madonna-wise1830
Madonna-braided1849
French-braided1956
braided-
1830 Ld. Tennyson Isabel in Poems 6 Locks not wide dispread, Madonna-wise on either side her head.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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