Hypertext Webster Gateway: "madam"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Madam \Mad"am\, n.; pl. {Madams}, or {Mesdames}. [See {Madame}.]
A gentlewoman; -- an appellation or courteous form of address
given to a lady, especially an elderly or a married lady; --
much used in the address, at the beginning of a letter, to a
woman. The corresponding word in addressing a man is Sir.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
madam
n 1: a woman of refinement [syn: {dame}, {ma'am}, {lady}, {gentlewoman}]
2: a woman who runs a house of prostitution [syn: {brothel
keeper}]
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