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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.

as a mark of respect. Before that time all the monarchs of Europe were satisfied with the appellation of Highness or Grace. Robertson.

Derived from the name of one's mother, or other female ancestor; as, a metronymic name or appellation. -- A metronymic appellation.

The title by which any person or thing is known or designated; a distinctive specific appellation, whether of an individual or a class. Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Gen. ii. 19. What's in a name That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. Shak.…

Having a form belonging more especially to words which are not appellations of males or females; expressing or designating that which is of neither sex; as, a neuter noun; a neuter termination; the neuter gender.

A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive familiarity; a familiar or an opprobrious appellation.

A name; an appellation. A is the nominal of the sixth note in the natural diatonic scale. Moore (Encyc. of Music. )

A word used as the designation or appellation of a creature or thing, existing in fact or in thought; a substantive.

Denoting identity or equivalence; -- used with a name or appellation, and equivalent to the relation of apposition; as, the continent of America; the city of Rome; the Island of Cuba.

A white person; -- an appellation supposed to have been applied to the whites by the American Indians. J. F. Cooper.

A cat; -- a fondling appellation.

A bare-legged person; -- a contemptuous appellation formerly given to the Scotch Highlanders, in allusion to their bare legs. Spenser.

A common appellation for a North American Indian; -- so called from the color of the skin. Cooper.

Applied as an appellation to a kind of shell invented by Gen. H. Shrapnel of the British army. -- n.

A humerous appellation for a sly, cunning, or waggish person. Slyboots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em. Goldsmith.

An assumed name; a fanciful epithet or appellation; a nickname. [Sometimes less correctly written soubriquet.]

A human being; a person; -- a familiar appellation, usually with a qualifying epithet; as, poor soul. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Prov. xxv. 25. God forbid so many simple souls Should perish by the aword! Shak. Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul). Cowper.

A name or appellation which is added to, or over and above, the baptismal or Christian name, and becomes a family name.

Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of Avon.

collection of short essays by different authors on a common topic; -- so called from the appellation given to the philosophical dialogue by the Greeks.