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What is a Lady?
Lois Digges
Some view the word “lady” as offensive, while others esteem it.
To find what the word “lady” really means, let’s begin by looking at a few dictionary entries...
Merriam-Webster:
A woman having proprietary rights or authority, especially as a feudal superior.
Wikitionary:
1) (historical) The mistress of a household. 2) A woman of breeding or higher class, a woman of authority.
American Heritage Dictionary:
1) A woman of high social standing or refinement, especially when viewed as dignified or well-mannered. 2) A woman who is the head of a household. 3) A woman, especially when spoken of or to in a polite way. 4) A woman who is the object of romantic or chivalrous love.
Collins English Dictionary:
1) A woman regarded as having the characteristics of a good family and high social position. 2) A polite name for a woman. 3) An informal name for wife.
We have a broad variety of definitions – from a woman of authority, to a wife or sweetheart, to any woman at all. Notice that your perception of the word “lady” may differ widely depending on which dictionary you use, or how people in your environment use the word. This is why I like to examine multiple dictionaries and trace the history of words to get at their true meaning.
The word “lady,” from around the year 1200, originally meant “mistress of a household” or “wife of a lord.” It continues to be a formal title of nobility in the United Kingdom. The title is also applied to female members in some orders of chivalry.
In the 1860’s, the definition of the word expanded to mean a "woman whose manners and sensibilities befit her for high rank in society.” In other words, any ladylike woman could be defined as a lady.
In the 1890’s, the meaning of the word expanded again when it began to be commonly used as an address to any woman.
In my eyes, a true lady is a woman of nobility.
But I do not see an ignoble person of “noble birth” as a true noble. The true nobility is composed of those with nobleness of character, mind, or spirit. These are the people of moral eminence – honorable, brave, truthful, and unselfish. The ladylike characteristics of gracious behavior and courteous conduct should arise from this core of inner nobility. Anything else is pretense.
In recent years, the word “lady” has become slang for multiple things, and is also sometimes used in an imperative derogatory context, such as: “Get back here, Young Lady!” or: “Lady, you’re out of your mind!”
I believe this type of usage of the word should stop. Using the word “lady” in this way is as absurd as saying: “Get back here, young Gentleman!” or: “Baron, you‘re out of your mind!”
Perhaps the decision to use the word “ladies” on restroom signage and in announcements to audiences has been intended to encourage good behavior in female visitors or to create feelings of dignity, but if the word is correctly understood, using the word in such ways can infer exclusion of some types of women from public facilities. In reality, overusing the word “lady” has effectually devalued the term so that it’s become almost redundant or meaningless.
To be inclusive of all women, I would prefer a change of wording on most public restroom signage from “ladies’” to “women’s.” And to be inclusive of all people who attend lectures or theatrical events, instead of hearing, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” I would rather hear, “Good evening, everyone.” I by no means want such changes legally imposed. Rather, my hope is that we as individuals freely choose to be both inclusive and precise.
A reformation in our usage of words can play a part returning truth, meaning, and understanding in our world.
In closing, I would like to quote a favorite prophet. In Mark 10:42-44, Jesus says:
"You know that those who are thought to rule over the nations are their overlords, and their big men overpower people. But among you, it will not be this way. Instead, any among you who desires to become great must be a servant to you. And whomever among you that wants to be foremost must be a servant to all."
References
“Lady.” American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/lady
“Lady.” Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/lady
“Lady.” Encyclopedia Brittanica. 1911. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Lady
“Lady.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lady
“Lady.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=lady
“Lady.” Wikitionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lady
“Nobility.” American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/nobility
“Nobility.” Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/nobility
Lois Digges
Some view the word “lady” as offensive, while others esteem it.
To find what the word “lady” really means, let’s begin by looking at a few dictionary entries...
Merriam-Webster:
A woman having proprietary rights or authority, especially as a feudal superior.
Wikitionary:
1) (historical) The mistress of a household. 2) A woman of breeding or higher class, a woman of authority.
American Heritage Dictionary:
1) A woman of high social standing or refinement, especially when viewed as dignified or well-mannered. 2) A woman who is the head of a household. 3) A woman, especially when spoken of or to in a polite way. 4) A woman who is the object of romantic or chivalrous love.
Collins English Dictionary:
1) A woman regarded as having the characteristics of a good family and high social position. 2) A polite name for a woman. 3) An informal name for wife.
We have a broad variety of definitions – from a woman of authority, to a wife or sweetheart, to any woman at all. Notice that your perception of the word “lady” may differ widely depending on which dictionary you use, or how people in your environment use the word. This is why I like to examine multiple dictionaries and trace the history of words to get at their true meaning.
The word “lady,” from around the year 1200, originally meant “mistress of a household” or “wife of a lord.” It continues to be a formal title of nobility in the United Kingdom. The title is also applied to female members in some orders of chivalry.
In the 1860’s, the definition of the word expanded to mean a "woman whose manners and sensibilities befit her for high rank in society.” In other words, any ladylike woman could be defined as a lady.
In the 1890’s, the meaning of the word expanded again when it began to be commonly used as an address to any woman.
In my eyes, a true lady is a woman of nobility.
But I do not see an ignoble person of “noble birth” as a true noble. The true nobility is composed of those with nobleness of character, mind, or spirit. These are the people of moral eminence – honorable, brave, truthful, and unselfish. The ladylike characteristics of gracious behavior and courteous conduct should arise from this core of inner nobility. Anything else is pretense.
In recent years, the word “lady” has become slang for multiple things, and is also sometimes used in an imperative derogatory context, such as: “Get back here, Young Lady!” or: “Lady, you’re out of your mind!”
I believe this type of usage of the word should stop. Using the word “lady” in this way is as absurd as saying: “Get back here, young Gentleman!” or: “Baron, you‘re out of your mind!”
Perhaps the decision to use the word “ladies” on restroom signage and in announcements to audiences has been intended to encourage good behavior in female visitors or to create feelings of dignity, but if the word is correctly understood, using the word in such ways can infer exclusion of some types of women from public facilities. In reality, overusing the word “lady” has effectually devalued the term so that it’s become almost redundant or meaningless.
To be inclusive of all women, I would prefer a change of wording on most public restroom signage from “ladies’” to “women’s.” And to be inclusive of all people who attend lectures or theatrical events, instead of hearing, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” I would rather hear, “Good evening, everyone.” I by no means want such changes legally imposed. Rather, my hope is that we as individuals freely choose to be both inclusive and precise.
A reformation in our usage of words can play a part returning truth, meaning, and understanding in our world.
In closing, I would like to quote a favorite prophet. In Mark 10:42-44, Jesus says:
"You know that those who are thought to rule over the nations are their overlords, and their big men overpower people. But among you, it will not be this way. Instead, any among you who desires to become great must be a servant to you. And whomever among you that wants to be foremost must be a servant to all."
References
“Lady.” American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/lady
“Lady.” Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/lady
“Lady.” Encyclopedia Brittanica. 1911. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Lady
“Lady.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lady
“Lady.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=lady
“Lady.” Wikitionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lady
“Nobility.” American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/nobility
“Nobility.” Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/nobility
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– determine which ideas are most strongly supported by the people, and
– find the true representatives of the public will, to elect them into public office.