Lady, fem. to Lord, 1) mistress, the woman who presides over an estate or family: “where their dear governess and l. lies,” Lucr. 443. “her --'s sorrow,” Lucr. 443 Mids. II, 2, 18. Tw. I, 5, 177. Cymb. III, 5, 84 etc. “she is the hopeful l. of my earth,” Rom. I, 2, 15. “of all these bounds we make thee l.” Lr. I, 1, 67. My l. == the mistress of the household: “my l. will hang thee,” Tw. I, 5, 3. Tw. I, 5, 3 II, 3, 28. 80 etc. my dear l. and my good l. == my patroness: “Fortune, now my dear l.” Tp. I, 2, 179. “she's my good l. and will conceive the worst of me,” Cymb. II, 3, 158.
2) wife to a man of distinction: “I would make thee my l.” Wiv. III, 3, 54. Wiv. III, 3, 54 “I must be thy l.” Mids. II, 1, 64. “I know his l.” All's III, 5, 58. “your l. is forthcoming,” H6B II, 1, 179. “a l. to the worthiest sir,” Cymb. I, 6, 160. “to fight against my --'s kingdom,” V, 1, 19 etc.
3) any woman of distinction: “I should be a pitiful l.” Wiv. III, 3, 56. “like my --'s eldest son,” Ado II, 1, 10. “so lords call --ies,” Shr. Ind. 2, 113. “some men must love my l. and some Joan,” LLL III, 207. “make me my l. thy wife,” H4B II, 1, 100 etc. Before names and titles: “dost thou know my l. Silvia?” Gent. II, 1, 44. “my L. Tongue,” Ado II, 1, 284 (Ff. this l.). “writ to my l. mother,” All's IV, 3, 102. “L. Marquess Dorset,” H8 V, 3, 169. “the l. widow of Vitruvio,” Rom. I, 2, 69. “your l. mother,” III, 5, 39. “dear l. daughter,” Cymb. I, 1, 154. “the l. abbess,” Err. V, 166. “the L. Beatrice,” Ado II, 1, 243. Ado II, 1, 243 “the L. Hero,” II, 3, 88. III, 3, 154. IV, 2, 51. V, 1, 243. Tw. III, 1, 36. John II, 540. H6B I, 1, 47. H6C II, 6, 90. III, 3, 128. III, 3, 128 H8 III, 2, 403. Troil. IV, 2, 68. Cor. I, 3, 29 etc. In compellations: “no, l., no,” Ven. 785. “Ceres, most bounteous l.” Tp. IV, 60. “I know none of that name, l.” Ado I, 1, 32. Ado I, 1, 32 Merch. II, 1, 8. Merch. II, 1, 8 III, 2, 266. Tw. I, 2, 2. Hml. III, 4, 115. Hml. III, 4, 115 Ant. I, 2, 84. III, 4, 25. III, 6, 90. V, 2, 48 etc.
4) any woman, called so in complaisance and courtesy: Lucr. Arg. V, 2, 48 Sonn. 106, 4. Tp. III, 1, 39. V, 196. Gent. III, 1, 81. IV, 1, 48. Meas. I, 2, 151. III, 1, 206. Err. V, 134. Ant. III, 4, 12 etc. “holiday and l. terms,” H4A I, 3, 46 (== becoming women). “that I some l. trifles have reserved,” Ant. V, 2, 165.
5) a woman beloved, mistress: “that I had my l. at this bay,” Pilgr. 155. “ringing in thy --'s ear,” Pilgr. 155 “thy former l.” Mids. III, 2, 457. Gent. II, 4, 125. Gent. II, 4, 125 Gent. II, 4, 125 III, 2, 83. IV, 2, 80. LLL IV, 3, 258. Tw. I, 4, 41. H5 III, 7, 101. Rom. II, 2, 10. II, 4, 42 etc.
6) the holy Virgin: “by 'r l.” Wiv. I, 1, 28. H8 I, 3, 46. “our L. help my lord,” LLL II, 98. “O well a day, L.” H5 II, 1, 39. “our L. gracious,” H6A I, 2, 74. “God's L. dear,” Rom. II, 5, 63. “Got's lords and his --ies,” Wiv. I, 1, 243 (Evans' speech). Berlady, or birlady, or byrlady == by our lady (M. Edd. by'r lady): Ado III, 3, 82. Ado III, 3, 82 III, 4, 82. H4A II, 4, 50. H4A II, 4, 50 H4A II, 4, 50 III, 1, 235. H4B V, 3, 93. R3 II, 3, 4. Tit. IV, 4, 48. Rom. I, 5, 35. Hml. II, 2, 445. III, 2, 140. Oth. III, 3, 74 (Ff trust me) etc.
7) the person performing the principal female part in a play: to see the l. the epilogue, As Epil. Oth. III, 3, 74 “the l. shall say her mind freely,” Hml. II, 2, 338.
8) a name of dogs: “L., my brach,” H4A III, 1, 240. “L. the brach,” Lr. I, 4, 125.
9) the burden of a certain song: “there dwelt a man in Babylon, l., l.” Tw. II, 3, 84. Rom. II, 4, 151.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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