Mistress Meaning
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Mistress Meaning
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
a woman who, most often secretly, has an ongoing sexual relationship with, and sometimes is financially supported by, someone who is openly married to, engaged to, or living with another person: If Mr. G thinks his wife doesn’t know he has a mistress, he’s dead wrong—just ask Mrs. G’s private investigator!
Sometimes Mistress . the dominant sexual partner, when female, in a BDSM relationship of unequal power.
Mistress . a term of address in former use and corresponding to Mrs., Miss, or Ms.
British . a female schoolteacher; schoolmistress .
Sometimes Mistress . something regarded as feminine that has control or supremacy: Because each enjoyed an era of naval superiority, both Venice and Britain were once known as the Mistress of the Seas.
Older Use . a woman who has authority, control, or power, especially the female head of a household, institution, or other establishment: I’m sorry, the mistress of the house is not presently available.
Older Use . a woman employing, or in authority over, servants or attendants: The maid laid out two outfits every morning so that her mistress might choose the one that best suited her mood.
(especially in historical use) a female owner of enslaved people, in the institution of chattel slavery ; a female slaveholder: Her father’s last will and testament made her mistress of his slaves after his death in 1837.
Older Use . a female owner of a pet or other animal: That horse can only be handled by his mistress and a few of the grooms.
Older Use . a woman who has the power of controlling or disposing of something at her own pleasure: mistress of a great fortune.
Obsolete . a woman who is skilled in something; a female master of an occupation or art: She and her sister are both mistresses of the harpsichord.
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First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English maistresse, from Middle French, Old French, equivalent to maistre master + -esse -ess
OTHER WORDS FROM mistress mis·tressed, adjective mis·tress-ship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. Ballou
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
a woman who has a continuing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
a woman in a position of authority, ownership, or control, such as the head of a household
a woman or female personification having control over something specified she was mistress of her own destiny
mainly British short for schoolmistress
an archaic or dialect word for sweetheart
C14: from Old French; see master , -ess
an archaic or dialect title equivalent to Mrs
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said that even after Watts was convicted, people sent angry emails about the killer dad’s mistress not being prosecuted, too.
For decades, Israel was the mistress every nation wanted to be with in private but didn’t necessarily want to acknowledge in public because of its treatment of Palestinians.
Her Catholic father, Baron Maximilian von Schoenebeck, drank only the finest wine, collected rare antiques and preferred his mistress es beautiful but not too intelligent.
It’s while staying at the sober-living facility that Wendy learns Kevin and his mistress are having a child, a betrayal that leads her to decisively end their marriage — and their business relationship.
When I proposed to draw on these stories and do a profile of Greene for Playboy magazine, he gave me the go-ahead, with the proviso that I not mention his last mistress , Yvonne Cloetta.
After a stint with a replacement Head Mistress went sour, R seriously considered shutting down La Domaine for good.
And Pope Alexander VI had the painter Pinturicchio disguise his mistress as the Virgin Mary in one fresco.
Head mistress Jean Harris is the ultimate proof of “Hell Hath No Fury like a Woman Scorned.”
On top of the pleasure (or pain), the clients who saw Mistress Carla received their own additional perks.
The most infamous case was that of Kanae Kijima, a onetime housekeeper who became a highly paid mistress .
Woman is mistress of the art of completely embittering the life of the person on whom she depends.
But Mary had gone home after dressing her mistress , and the fat boy came back again more disturbed than before.
The mistress of the house affectionately inquired if she felt equal to a short conversation.
Her young mistress got up and approached her, also growing pale, for she perceived that danger was at the door.
They made an odd procession as they marched out of the hall, under the sullen eyes of the baulked cut-throats and their mistress .
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Female who is in an extra-marital sexual relationship
"Side piece" redirects here. For the Jack Harlow song, see Come Home the Kids Miss You .
The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with England and France and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject . You may improve this article , discuss the issue on the talk page , or create a new article , as appropriate. ( March 2020 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message )
A mistress is a woman who is in a relatively long-term sexual and romantic relationship with a man who is married to a different woman. [1] [2]
A mistress is in a long-term relationship with her attached lover, and is often referred to as "the other woman". Generally, the relationship is stable and at least semi-permanent, but the couple does not live together openly and the relationship is usually, but not always, secret. There is often also the implication that the mistress is sometimes "kept" – i.e. her lover is contributing to her living expenses. [3] [4]
A mistress is usually not considered a prostitute : while a mistress, if "kept", may, in some sense, be exchanging sex for money, the principal difference is that a mistress has sex with fewer men and there is not so much of a direct quid pro quo between the money and the sex act. There is usually an emotional and possibly social relationship between a man and his mistress, whereas the relationship between a prostitute and her client is predominantly monetary. It is also important that the "kept" status follows the establishment of a relationship of indefinite term as opposed to the agreement on price and terms established prior to any activity with a prostitute. [5]
Historically the term has denoted a "kept woman", who was maintained in a comfortable (or even lavish) lifestyle by a wealthy man so that she would be available for his sexual pleasure (like a "sugar baby"). Such a woman could move between the roles of a mistress and a courtesan depending on her situation and environment.
In modern times, the word "mistress" is used primarily to refer to the female lover of a man who is married to another woman; in the case of an unmarried man, it is usual to speak of a " girlfriend " or " partner ".
The term "mistress" was originally used as a neutral feminine counterpart to "mister" or "master" . [3]
The historically best known and most-researched mistresses are the royal mistresses of European monarchs , for example, Agnès Sorel , Diane de Poitiers , Barbara Villiers , Nell Gwyn and Madame de Pompadour . [6] The keeping of a mistress in Europe was not confined to royalty and nobility , but permeated down through the social ranks, essentially to any man who could afford to do so. Any man who could afford a mistress could have one (or more), regardless of social position. A wealthy merchant or a young noble might have had a kept woman. Being a mistress was typically an occupation for a younger woman who, if she were fortunate, might go on to marry her lover or another man of rank. [7]
The ballad " The Three Ravens " (published in 1611, but possibly older) extolls the loyal mistress of a slain knight , who buries her dead lover and then dies of the exertion, as she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. The ballad-maker assigned this role to the knight's mistress ("leman" was the term common at the time) rather than to his wife. [8] [9]
In the courts of Europe, particularly Versailles and Whitehall in the 17th and 18th centuries, a mistress often wielded great power and influence. A king might have numerous mistresses, but have a single "favourite mistress" or "official mistress" (in French, maîtresse en titre ), as with Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour . The mistresses of both Louis XV (especially Madame de Pompadour) and Charles II were often considered to exert great influence over their lovers, the relationships being open secrets . [10] Other than wealthy merchants and kings, Alexander VI is but one example of a Pope who kept mistresses. [11] While the extremely wealthy might keep a mistress for life (as George II of Great Britain did with " Mrs Howard ", even after they were no longer romantically linked), such was not the case for most kept women. [12]
In 1736, when George II was newly ascendant, Henry Fielding (in Pasquin ) has his Lord Place say, "[...] but, miss, every one now keeps and is kept; there are no such things as marriages now-a-days, unless merely Smithfield contracts, and that for the support of families; but then the husband and wife both take into keeping within a fortnight". [13]
Occasionally the mistress is in a superior position both financially and socially to her lover. As a widow, Catherine the Great was known to have been involved with several successive men during her reign; but, like many powerful women of her era, in spite of being a widow free to marry, she chose not to share her power with a husband, preferring to maintain absolute power alone. [14]
In literature, D. H. Lawrence 's 1928 novel Lady Chatterley's Lover portrays a situation where a woman becomes the mistress of her husband's gamekeeper . [15] Until recently, a woman's taking a socially inferior lover was considered much more shocking than the reverse situation.
As divorce became more socially acceptable, it was easier for men to divorce their wives and marry the women who, in earlier years, might have been their mistresses. The practice of having a mistress continued among some married men, especially the wealthy. Occasionally, men married their mistresses. The late Sir James Goldsmith , on marrying his mistress, Lady Annabel Birley , declared, "When you marry your mistress, you create a job vacancy". [16]
" Paramour " is sometimes used, but this term can apply to either partner in an illicit relationship, so it is not exclusively male. If the man is being financially supported, especially by a wealthy older woman, he is a "sugar baby", "kept man" or "toyboy".
In 18th and 19th-century Italy , the terms cicisbeo and cavalier servente were used to describe a man who was the professed gallant and lover of a married woman. Another word that has been used for a male mistress is gigolo , though this carries connotations of brief duration and expectation of payment, i.e. prostitution . [ citation needed ]
In both John Cleland 's 1748 novel Fanny Hill and Daniel Defoe 's 1722 Moll Flanders , as well as in countless novels of feminine peril, the distinction between a "kept woman" and a prostitute is all-important. [17] [18]
Apologists for the practice of mistresses referred to the practice in the ancient Near East of keeping a concubine ; they frequently quoted verses from the Old Testament to show that mistress-keeping was an ancient practice that was, if not acceptable, at least understandable. [19] John Dryden , in Annus Mirabilis , suggested that the king's keeping of mistresses and production of bastards was a result of his abundance of generosity and spirit. [20] In its more sinister form, the theme of being "kept" is never far from the surface in novels about women as victims in the 18th century in England , whether in the novels of Eliza Haywood or Samuel Richardson (whose heroines in Pamela and Clarissa are both put in a position of being threatened with sexual degradation and being reduced to the status of a kept object). [21]
With the Romantics of the early 19th century, the subject of "keeping" becomes more problematic, in that a non-marital sexual union can occasionally be celebrated as a woman's free choice and a noble alternative. Mary Ann Evans (better known as George Eliot ) defiantly lived "in sin" with a married man, partially as a sign of her independence of middle-class morality. Her independence required that she not be "kept". [22] [23]
Women adored him and he adored women. He married three times and had numerous mistresses. (Yet another Jimmyism: 'When you marry your mistress you create a job vacancy.') He was loyal, in his own way, to all of them, and all of them were loyal to him. He had eight children by four different women, and never have I seen a more closely knit family.
The Meaning of Mistress: What It Is and How To Use It
Do you know the meaning of mistress? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on this new word!
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According to Collins English Dictionary , the noun mistress commonly refers to a married man’s female lover. This is often used to describe the other woman in extramarital affairs. The word mistress is two syllables (mis-tress), and its pronunciation is mɪstrəs .
The word mistress also has a couple of other definitions. It can refer to a female schoolteacher. It can also refer to a woman who is the master of something, whether an enslaved person or servant, animal, or skill or craft.
If you are reading a book in another language or trying to learn a new language, studying this list of translations of mistress is a great way to expand your knowledge. Learning how to say words in another language stimulates your brain and can help lead to a deeper knowledge of the word mistress.
The word mistress originates from Old French. The word maistresse was used to mean a lover as well as a female teacher, a governess, and a housekeeper. In Modern French, the word maîtresse is used in its place. The word mistress has been used in the English language since the year 1300.
The French term for mistress comes from the masculine French word maistre , which means master. This word originates from the Latin word magister, which means pretty much the same thing as the modern English master : a head, chief, or director.
The meaning of the word mistress has changed over the years. Its definition as the lover of a married man and the female head of a house have been used since the early 15th century. This term has also been used to address women politely since the mid-15th century.
In the mid-15th century, the word mistress began to refer to a female master in a certain field of study. In the year 1500, the word mistress took on the definition of a beloved woman.
You can use the word mistress in many different sentences. When this word is used in modern times, it often describes the female lover of an unfaithful spouse or partner. If you use this word in a sentence, remember people may think you are talking about an illicit affair.
To learn what a word means, you can test yourself by using a word in a sentence. To grow your knowledge, take a look at the below examples of the word mistress. Then, try using this word in a sentence yourself!
His mistress went off script during the ceremony. While she was supposed to be talking about divinity, she exposed his infidelity to everyone.
The wife found out about her husband’s mistress when she was granted temporary access as a network administrator to his device during an anti-virus scan. She found hundreds of text messages between them.
Geval Minnares had a personal connection with his mistress that he could not find with anyone else, even his wife, Leven.
After she found out about her husband’s mistress, she went and got a whole new look. She had easier access to make enhancements to her husband’s favorite features than ever and used these to her advantage.
Miss Jaar tried to expose his mistress by sending malware onto his web property via a one-time privacy pass, but she failed the CAPTCHA and couldn’t find anything.
If you are trying to use a word for mistress that does not imply infidelity, you can try using a synonym for mistress from the list provided by Power Thesaurus . A thesaurus is a great source for alternate words to use in sentences.
You might use a synonym to avoid repeating yourself or look for a word with a different connotation. Try looking up the definitions of these synonyms of mistress to see how they compare to the original word.
Overall, the word mistress usually refers to the female lover of a married man. It can also refer to the master of a servant or dog, a female teacher, or a woman who’s a master at her craft or art.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Part of HuffPost News. ©2022 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved.
Let's be clear. There's never a good excuse for engaging in an affair with someone who is married. But it does happen. And at the end of the day, women who become mistresses or "the other woman" are our daughters, sisters, aunts, mothers, wives, and neighbors. They are women within our communities.
Freelance Writer/Co-Host@The Broad's Way Podcast/Creator/Writer@The Pondering Nook/Lover/Mother/Stepmother
Aug 22, 2016, 11:57 AM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017
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Freelance Writer/Co-Host@The Broad's Way Podcast/Creator/Writer@The Pondering Nook/Lover/Mother/Stepmother
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