"dame" meaning in Middle English

See dame in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈdaːm(ə)/, /ˈdam(ə)/ Forms: dames [plural], damme [alternative], dam [alternative]
Etymology: From Old French dame, from Latin domina. Etymology templates: {{bor|enm|fro|dame}} Old French dame, {{der|enm|la|domina}} Latin domina Head templates: {{head|enm|nouns|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} dame, {{enm-noun}} dame (plural dames)
  1. lady (high-ranking or noble woman):
    abbess (governor of a nunnery)
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-E5bnGIzx Categories (other): Nobility Disambiguation of Nobility: 23 23 5 5 22 6 5 5 5 3
  2. lady (high-ranking or noble woman):
    (rare) A female anchorite (with servants)
    Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-mceCdjEK Categories (other): Female animals, Female family members, Female people, Nobility Disambiguation of Female animals: 1 63 1 20 2 3 1 1 5 1 Disambiguation of Female family members: 3 46 7 15 3 7 5 3 10 2 Disambiguation of Female people: 13 77 0 0 5 6 0 0 0 0 Disambiguation of Nobility: 23 23 5 5 22 6 5 5 5 3
  3. A housewife (mistress of a family)
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-lRKneGs~
  4. A mother (of humans, animals, or plants)
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-FP437o-m Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11
  5. A term of address for a noble lady.
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-Qnxhgj-7 Categories (other): Middle English terms of address, Nobility Disambiguation of Middle English terms of address: 2 2 3 7 34 34 4 2 7 4 Disambiguation of Nobility: 23 23 5 5 22 6 5 5 5 3
  6. A respectful term of address for any woman (sometimes sarcastic).
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-D36eF-ok Categories (other): Middle English terms of address Disambiguation of Middle English terms of address: 2 2 3 7 34 34 4 2 7 4
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: madame, stepdame
Etymology number: 1

Noun

Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|altform=1}} dame
  1. Alternative form of dam (“dam”) Tags: alt-of, alternative Alternative form of: dam (extra: dam)
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-TMxft~20 Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Noun

Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|altform=1}} dame
  1. Alternative form of damey Tags: alt-of, alternative Alternative form of: damey
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-U5qQg9Jp
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 3

Noun

Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|altform=1}} dame
  1. (when preceding labials) Alternative form of dan Tags: alt-of, alternative Alternative form of: dan
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-noun-VENe5-ae Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 4

Verb

Head templates: {{head|enm|verb|altform=1}} dame
  1. Alternative form of dampnen Tags: alt-of, alternative Alternative form of: dampnen
    Sense id: en-dame-enm-verb-TzA4Rylo Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 5

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "en",
            "2": "dame"
          },
          "expansion": "English: dame",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "English: dame; dam"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "sco",
            "2": "dame",
            "3": "deem"
          },
          "expansion": "Scots: dame, deem",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Scots: dame, deem; dam"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "dame"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French dame",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "domina"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin domina",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French dame, from Latin domina.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "dames",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "damme",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dam",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "nouns",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "dame (plural dames)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "madame"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "stepdame"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "23 23 5 5 22 6 5 5 5 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "lady (high-ranking or noble woman):",
        "abbess (governor of a nunnery)"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-E5bnGIzx",
      "links": [
        [
          "lady",
          "lady#English"
        ],
        [
          "abbess",
          "abbess"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "1 63 1 20 2 3 1 1 5 1",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Female animals",
          "orig": "enm:Female animals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 46 7 15 3 7 5 3 10 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Female family members",
          "orig": "enm:Female family members",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 77 0 0 5 6 0 0 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Female people",
          "orig": "enm:Female people",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 23 5 5 22 6 5 5 5 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "lady (high-ranking or noble woman):",
        "A female anchorite (with servants)"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-mceCdjEK",
      "links": [
        [
          "lady",
          "lady#English"
        ],
        [
          "anchorite",
          "anchorite"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "lady (high-ranking or noble woman):",
        "(rare) A female anchorite (with servants)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A housewife (mistress of a family)"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-lRKneGs~",
      "links": [
        [
          "housewife",
          "housewife"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A mother (of humans, animals, or plants)"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-FP437o-m",
      "links": [
        [
          "mother",
          "mother"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "2 2 3 7 34 34 4 2 7 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English terms of address",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 23 5 5 22 6 5 5 5 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A term of address for a noble lady."
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-Qnxhgj-7"
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "2 2 3 7 34 34 4 2 7 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English terms of address",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A respectful term of address for any woman (sometimes sarcastic)."
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-D36eF-ok"
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdaːm(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdam(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "extra": "dam",
          "word": "dam"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of dam (“dam”)"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-TMxft~20",
      "links": [
        [
          "dam",
          "dam#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 3,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "damey"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of damey"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-U5qQg9Jp",
      "links": [
        [
          "damey",
          "damey#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 4,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "dan"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of dan"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-noun-VENe5-ae",
      "links": [
        [
          "dan",
          "dan#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "when preceding labials",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(when preceding labials) Alternative form of dan"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 5,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "dampnen"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 6 17 5 10 11 6 20 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of dampnen"
      ],
      "id": "en-dame-enm-verb-TzA4Rylo",
      "links": [
        [
          "dampnen",
          "dampnen#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English alternative forms",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Latin",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Middle English terms of address",
    "Pages with 13 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Female animals",
    "enm:Female family members",
    "enm:Female people",
    "enm:Nobility"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "en",
            "2": "dame"
          },
          "expansion": "English: dame",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "English: dame; dam"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "sco",
            "2": "dame",
            "3": "deem"
          },
          "expansion": "Scots: dame, deem",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Scots: dame, deem; dam"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "dame"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French dame",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "domina"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin domina",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French dame, from Latin domina.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "dames",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "damme",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dam",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "nouns",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "dame (plural dames)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "madame"
    },
    {
      "word": "stepdame"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "lady (high-ranking or noble woman):",
        "abbess (governor of a nunnery)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "lady",
          "lady#English"
        ],
        [
          "abbess",
          "abbess"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "lady (high-ranking or noble woman):",
        "A female anchorite (with servants)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "lady",
          "lady#English"
        ],
        [
          "anchorite",
          "anchorite"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "lady (high-ranking or noble woman):",
        "(rare) A female anchorite (with servants)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A housewife (mistress of a family)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "housewife",
          "housewife"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A mother (of humans, animals, or plants)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mother",
          "mother"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A term of address for a noble lady."
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A respectful term of address for any woman (sometimes sarcastic)."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdaːm(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdam(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English alternative forms",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English terms of address",
    "Pages with 13 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Female animals",
    "enm:Female family members",
    "enm:Female people",
    "enm:Nobility"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "extra": "dam",
          "word": "dam"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of dam (“dam”)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "dam",
          "dam#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English alternative forms",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English terms of address",
    "Pages with 13 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Female animals",
    "enm:Female family members",
    "enm:Female people",
    "enm:Nobility"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 3,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "damey"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of damey"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "damey",
          "damey#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English alternative forms",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English terms of address",
    "Pages with 13 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Female animals",
    "enm:Female family members",
    "enm:Female people",
    "enm:Nobility"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 4,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "dan"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of dan"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "dan",
          "dan#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "when preceding labials",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(when preceding labials) Alternative form of dan"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English alternative forms",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English terms of address",
    "Pages with 13 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Female animals",
    "enm:Female family members",
    "enm:Female people",
    "enm:Nobility"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 5,
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb",
        "altform": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "dame",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "dampnen"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of dampnen"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "dampnen",
          "dampnen#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "dame"
}

Download raw JSONL data for dame meaning in Middle English (5.1kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-06-16 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-06-01 using wiktextract (074e7de and f1c2b61). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.