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First of all, hello everyone, I know it has been some time. Anyway, the reason I am posting is that I am attempting to understand the word Madam. I was taught, even when attending University and gaining my English Lit. Degree, that the definition and accepted terminology for such was, "a kept woman" or "a woman who runs a brothel/cat house". Today, now that I currently reside within the "South", I have been informed of an alternate definition. That of, a term of respect. After having to stamp down my ire and indignation, and an interesting argument debate, I made the difficult decision to employ the ever ready and all powerful, internet; where upon I mashed in the word and Merriam Webster Dictionary spewed the following catenated mess at me: plural mes·dames : lady —used without a name as a form of respectful or polite address to a woman
2
: mistress 1 —used as a title formerly with the given name but now with the surname or especially with a designation of rank or office
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: the female head of a house of prostitution
4
: the female head of a household : wife I am so confused! Where and how or why did this word evolve to have a dual meaning of both a woman of respect and a woman of social faux pas??? And I shall refrain from mentioning that of Mistress for now.
Rev. Alimae
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Its earliest use:
1 a. A form of respectful or polite address (substituted for the name) originally used by servants in speaking to their mistress, and by people generally in speaking to a woman of high rank; subsequently used with progressively extended application, and now, though no longer as frequently as in previous centuries, employed in addressing a woman of whatever rank or position; the female counterpart of sir
Later on it came to have "various derisive or opprobrious uses" like "An affected fine lady" and "A female brothel-keeper". As for "why", well that's semantic change for you.
Last edited by goofy; 08/21/11 08:41 PM.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Madam or Ma'am and Sir is becoming more popular way of addressing someone we don't know....to be respectful....if their name is not known.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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I had learned that Mistress and Master were for young or unmarried people and Madam (Ma'am) and Mister for older or married people. Esquire after the man's name to indicate a property owner (old, now) or a law degree.
I think there are many regional uses of these terms that have changed over the years.
I still remember when we moved to the South and my mom called someone to ask about buying a crib. The lady she spoke to was horrified, as a crib is a whorehouse. She should have asked for a 'baby bed'. *lol*
~===,===,=^=<
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
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I visited a small outstate town once and with the friend
with whom I was eating at this small cafe, ordered
"taverns". I figured he knew what he was eating and I could
not go too far wrong. Turned out to be hamburger and
tomato sauce on a bun, what I'd call a "sloppy Joe". The
waitress asked us, when we had finished, if we wanted
"bars". I had not a clue. Turned out to be brownie-like
cake. So there are many different regional differences.
And these were less than 150 miles from my home and in the
same state.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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I truly appreciate all that has been said, and yes, I guess it is pure topographical semantics. *shrugs* I guess it just goes to show that one should always try and keep an open mind and learn what an individuals "meaning" is prior to making a conclusion as to the reference being made.
Rev. Alimae
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and here in the Northwest you can go into a bar and order a 'schooner', which to me is a ship. It's also a large pitcher of beer!
~===,===,=^=<
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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And in NZ, VV a crib might be a batch or a holiday house by the sea. Funny isn't it!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Here a "crib" can be a place to store grain, like corn, as
in "corn crib".
----please, draw me a sheep----
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stranger
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stranger
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In England, I used to crib (plagiarise) my mate's homework, and would make a crib-sheet (a tiny aide-memoire) to smuggle into an exam.
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