Middle English Dictionary Entry
ma-dam(e n. & phr.
Entry Info
| Forms | ma-dam(e n. & phr. Also maddedam, madaum, maidame, meidame & ma dame. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
My lady: (a) used as a respectful form of address, usually to a woman of the upper classes; (b) used as part of a title; (c) in the name of a dish; ?in the title of a dance tune.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Oxf.Scholar (Hrl 2277)12 : Þe moder..to churche hit [her child] broȝte; Þe child bihuld þe rode..'Ou, ma dame,' quaþ þe child, 'wounder me þinȝþ hit iwis.'
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)112/67 : Is stepmoder, þe luþer quene..swor þat he ssolde aliȝte & wiþ hure bileue alday. 'Certes, ma dame [Ld: dame],' quaþ þis king, 'so ne may it noȝt be[o].'
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)832 : 'Mid hou mani kniȝtes is he come?'..'Ma dame, bote mid o man.'
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4644 : Þo bispac Wawain..'Madame, purvaieþ ous harnais'..'Sone,' sche seyd, 'sikerliche.'
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)633 : Þanne alisaundrine..seide..'A! madame, for marie loue, mornes no lenger!'
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.376 : It is ful fair to been ycleped madame.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1386 : Ma Dame, whilom I was on That to mi fader hadde a king.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1331 : Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)4340 : In chambir hendely he hir grett And said, 'madam [Vsp: Lauedi], cum to ȝour mett.'
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7622 : Candulek..seiþ, 'Ma dame [LinI: madame], beeþ redy, And welcomeþ here myne amy.'
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.101 : To his wif gan I knele, And seide, 'mercy, madame, ȝour man shal I worþe.'
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)36/12,19 : Ȝe louen þe furste place in sopers..gretinges and salutaciouns in marketis, and be cleped of men maistres and madames..Ne be ȝe not clepid maistres ne medames, for ȝoure maister on is Crist.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)121 : Ma dame, he hath doon many a wikkid deede.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)85 : 'Sir Kay..it war gude þou left swilk sawes'..'Madame..We ne wist nothing of þi come.'
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)85/4 : Þei askyd hir ȝyf malendrynes had robbyd hir, & sche seyd, 'Nay, madame.'
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)781 : Hir maydyn..knelid..'Madame [vr. Meydame], appon Ȝolenyghte My waryson ȝe me highte.'
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)315 : Madame, brouke weel þy moregeue..Þerto haue I no ryȝt.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2210 : 'Damisel' þe ȝongest es, Þe elder 'madaum' & 'mastres'. Þe Priores..Es 'lady'.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)272/48 : Yhitt for to comforte my corse, me must kisse you, madame!
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)337/30 : Certayn, ma dame, youre derling woll wyn the ladie of Calabre all with hunting!
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1046/3 : 'A, madame,' seyde sir Launcelot, 'in thys ye must holde me excused.'
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)89/131 : The child that thou shall bere, madame, Shall godys son be callid by name.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)801 : 'Maydame,' sche seid, 'gramercy Of þi gret cortesy.'
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)574 : Than Pheb[e]..seyd..'How say ye, Neptunus, shall I do thys dede?'..'Madame,' quod he, 'reule me as ye lyketh best.'
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)584 : 'Haile quemful queene..menskful ladie!' Hee was dedaine on his deede 'madame' [L domina] too segge Too any ladie in lond, for lordlich hee karpes.
- a1605(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(2))23319 : 'Madams,' quod this messegere, 'the kynge, most myghty of power..hathe be longe from yow absent.'
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)838 : Madame melior, so dere..ich se a seg a-slepe here bi-side.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.121 : She was cleped Madame Eglentyne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4390 : Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)269 : 'Oo! madame,' he seide, 'Olympyas, Heiȝe maister in Egipte J was.'
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)90/7 : Noþer he ne madde dame his ladi ne his children..schal haue þe heritage in þe blisse of heuene.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)420/6 : Sir Palomydes..seyde, 'Madame Isode, and ye wolde graunte me my boone, I shall brynge agayne to yow dame Brangwayne sauff and sounde.'
c
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)23 : Sawse madame. Take sawge, persel, ysope, [etc.].
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)707 : Blow! lett see Madam Regent, Ande daunce, ye laddys! yowr hertys be lyght.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)432 : Sauce Madame: Take sauge and parsel, ysope, and saveray, and qwynses, and gode peres pared, and cut hom…and let hit boyle…and poure the sauce above.
Note: Supplies date
Note: Postdates 'sauce ~' example.