Where does “madame” come from?
madame (Middle English) comes from Old French madame, 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 (Middle English): madam polite term of address or (less often) title for a noble lady
Definitions
- madam polite term of address or (less often) title for a noble lady
Ancestry of “madame”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | madame | — |
| 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 |