| Vidame | ‖n. [ F., fr. LL. vice-dominus, fr. L. vice instead of + dominus master, lord. ] (Fr. Feud. Law) One of a class of temporal officers who originally represented the bishops, but later erected their offices into fiefs, and became feudal nobles. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Dame | n. [ F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam a mother, Dan, Danger, Dungeon, Dominie, Don, n., Duenna. ] 1. A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a woman in authority; especially, a lady. [ 1913 Webster ] Then shall these lords do vex me half so much,
As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The mistress of a family in common life, or the mistress of a common school; as, a dame's school. [ 1913 Webster ] In the dame's classes at the village school. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A woman in general, esp. an elderly woman. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A mother; -- applied to human beings and quadrupeds. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] |
