Where does “madame” come from?
madame (French) comes from French dame, from Old French dame, from Late Latin domna, from Latin domina, from Latin Dominus, from Latin domus, from Proto-Italic domos, from Proto-Indo-European dṓm — to build; to arrange, to put together.
madame (French): a title or form of address for a woman, formerly...
Definitions
- a title or form of address for a woman, formerly...
Ancestry of “madame”, step by step
madame traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via French dame
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | dame | A lady; A polite form of address for a woman;... |
| 2 | Old French | dame | lady; woman |
| 3 | Late Latin | domna | lady, mistress |
| 4 | Latin | domina | lady or mistress of the house |
| 5 | Latin | Dominus | the Lord; Lord; The Lord |
| 6 | Latin | domus | house, home; any building or abode; native place,... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | domos | house, home |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dṓm | home; house |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dem- | to build; to arrange, to put together |
via French ma
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | ma | feminine singular of mon; my |
| 2 | French | tante | aunt |
| 3 | Middle French | tante | — |
| 4 | Middle French | ante | auntie; aunt |
| 5 | Old French | ante | nominative singular of antain; aunt |
| 6 | Latin | amita | paternal aunt; father's sister |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | amma- | mother |
via Old French ma dame
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | ma dame | my lady |
| 2 | Latin | mea domina | my lady |