What does "mesdames" mean?
plural of madam
Mesdames
noun
noun ·2 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: plural of madam
- Grammar: mesdames is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: dame, donna, female guests, frau.
- Useful contrasts: gentlemen, men, messieurs.
- Usage evidence: The conſtant queſtion, upon her offering to ſtir abroad, was, where are you going Madam? To ſee the King my papa, replied the Princeſs. That cannot be Madam. No? why ſo? It is not the Etiquette. — And thus, if ſhe had a mind to viſit any of the Mesdames, the king’s ſiſters or aunts, ſhe was always told, it was not the Etiquette.
How to use "mesdames"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mesdames" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mesdames" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mesdames" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mesdames" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mesdames" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dame" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mesdames", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 plural of madam form-of, plural
- 2 plural of Madam (“polite form of address for a woman or lady”)
"The conſtant queſtion, upon her offering to ſtir abroad, was, where are you going Madam? To ſee the King my papa, replied the Princeſs. That cannot be Madam. No? why ſo? It is not the Etiquette. — And thus, if ſhe had a mind to viſit any of the Mesdames, the king’s ſiſters or aunts, ſhe was always told, it was not the Etiquette."
- 3 plural of madame form-of, plural
- 4 plural of Madame (“title equivalent to Mrs. or Ms., used for French-speaking women and (by custom) certain other individuals”) form-of, plural
"In 1679, the rivalry between Mesdames de Maintenon and de Montespan flared up again over the children. And in 1680, after the dim-witted Madame de Fontanges’ pregnancy was tragically terminated, it was the marquise de Maintenon whom the king turned to for solace and companionship."
- 5 plural of Mrs /Mrs. (“title used before an adult woman’s name or surname”) form-of, plural
"But almost funniest of all was the performance on Wednesday of Peter Anastos's Yes, Virginia, Another Piano Ballet, a wicked look at Mr. Robbins's Dances at a Gathering. This is acute parody, well-danced by Baum, Lermontov and Mesdames Boumdiyeva, Zamarkova, Yurika Sakitumi (Anthony Rabara) and Agrippina Proboskovna (Roy Fialkow). Mr. Fialkow hasn't reached that level of parody, but his new Lamentations of Jane Eyre got close on Wednesday. He knows his Graham technique, and this portrait of three exotically dreary sisters has some fine satiric touches. It was danced by Mesdames Proboskovna, Sakitumi and Sonia Leftova (Dana Keough), in her quiet way one of the company's most interesting performers."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The conſtant queſtion, upon her offering to ſtir abroad, was, where are you going Madam? To ſee the King my papa, replied the Princeſs. That cannot be Madam. No? why ſo? It is not the Etiquette. — And thus, if ſhe had a mind to viſit any of the Mesdames, the king’s ſiſters or aunts, ſhe was always told, it was not the Etiquette."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mesdames"?
Common synonyms include: dame, donna, female guests, frau, fraulein, french title.
How do you use "mesdames" in a sentence?
The conſtant queſtion, upon her offering to ſtir abroad, was, where are you going Madam? To ſee the King my papa, replied the Princeſs. That cannot be Madam. No? why ſo? It is not the Etiquette. — And thus, if ſhe had a mind to viſit any of the Mesdames, the king’s ſiſters or aunts, ſhe was always told, it was not the Etiquette.
Etymology
From French Mesdames, plural of Madame (in turn, from Old French ma dame “my lady”)