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The cohabiting of a man and a woman who are not legally married; the state of being a concubine.

A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a paramour.

A woman who leads or directs; a directress.

A woman who conquers. Fairfax.

A woman who preserves from loss, injury, etc.

all . . . study broths, plasters, and conserves, till from a fine lady I become a notable woman. Tatler.

The act of formally betrothing a man and woman. This is the the night of the contract. Longwellow.

A vain, trifling woman, who endeavors to attract admiration from a desire to grafity vanity; a flirt; -- formerly sometimes applied also to men.

A pin of a large size, formerly used attaching a woman's headdress to a cork mold. [Obs.] Swift.

A part of a woman's headdress, in the 16th century.

A woman who corrects.

A woman who corrupts. Thou studied old corruptress. Beau & Fl.

A male and female associated together; esp., a man and woman who are married or betrothed. Such were our couple, man and wife. Lloyd. Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league. Milton.

A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; a harlot. Lasciviously decked like a courtesan. Sir H. Wotton.

The act of wooing in love; solicitation of woman to marriage. This method of courtship, [by which] both sides are prepared for all the matrimonial adventures that are to follow. Goldsmith.

A custom, among certain barbarous tribes, that when a woman gives birth to a child her husband takes to his bed, as if ill. The world-wide custom of the couvade, where at childbirth the husband undergoes medical treatment, in many cases being put to bed for days. Tylor.

Under cover, authority or protection; as, a feme covert, a married woman who is considered as being under the protection and control of her husband. Covert way, (Fort.) See Covered way, under Covered.

The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a feme covert, or femme couverte.

Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly. Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.

ishment for a crime. -- Criminal conversation (Law), unlawful intercourse with a married woman; adultery; -- usually abbreviated, crim. con. -- Criminal law, the law which relates to crimes.