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Webster 1913 Edition


Madam

Mad′am

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Madams
, or
Mesdames
(#)
.
[See
Madame
.]
1.
A gentlewoman; – an appellation or courteous form of address given to a lady, especially an elderly or a married lady; – much used in the address, at the beginning of a letter, to a woman. The corresponding word in addressing a man is
Sir
; often abbreviated
ma’am
when used as a term of address.

Webster 1828 Edition


Madam

MAD'AM

,
Noun.
An appellation or complimentary title given to married and elderly ladies, or chiefly to them.