madam
/ˈmadəm
/noun
1Used to address or refer to a woman in a polite or respectful way: Can I help you, madam?...
- After she was through, Vidal replied simply and tersely, ‘Are you running for office, madam?’
- ‘Erm, I'm sorry, madam, but do you have a picture of what you want? ‘she asked tentatively.’
- Tailored styles are already available in mainstream stores such as Marks & Spencer, Next and Debenhams, so it shouldn't be hard to find an outfit that suits you, madam.
1.1 (Madam) Used to address a woman at the start of a formal or business letter: Dear Madam, ......
- If you are told to address her as ‘Dear Madam’ the ending must be ‘Yours faithfully’.
- Dear Madam I have your note, but do not think I can undertake more than I originally promised, to give some informal talk about the value of the Greek Language & Literature, as objects of study, especially with reference to Mr. Evrett's absurd remark.
1.2 (Madam) Used before a title to address or refer to a female holder of that position: Madam President...
- Madam Speaker: Please allow the member to complete his answer in silence.
- Madam Speaker, we are a city that cares about its future.
- Madam Secretary, I'll start with you.
2British informal A conceited or bossy girl or young woman: she’s a proper little madam...
- ‘I cannot possibly imagine myself wearing those,’ the proper madam muttered with utmost conviction.
- Now, young madam, let me wager a month's salary that you, like so many of our sisters these days, are the proud and confident wearer of the latest hipsters.
- The little madams ' fancy then turned to donkey rides, which were quickly arranged.
3A woman who runs a brothel.As long as brothel madams and their prostitutes paid their monthly fines and sought to keep drunkenness, violence, theft and other disorderly behavior to a minimum, the police left them alone....
- The 45-year-old mother of four is a millionaire entrepreneur who made her fortune as a brothel madam on the Kalgoorlie goldfields.
- If you like I could always send a note to Eileen, the madam of the brothel, getting her to collaborate my story.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French ma dame 'my lady'.