A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. Then shall these lords do vex me half so much, As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. Shak.
The mistress of a family in common life, or the mistress of a common school; as, a dame's school. In the dame's classes at the village school. Emerson.
A woman in general, esp. an elderly woman.
A mother; -- applied to human beings and quadrupeds. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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