Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Mistress: a contracted form in colloquial or provincial use. The word thus contracted is spelled out chiefly in representations of vulgar speech; but as a title it is in universal spoken use in the form *missess or rather
misses (mis′ ez), and is almost invariably written Mrs. Seemistress . - noun A wife.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A mistress; a wife; -- so used by the illiterate.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Alternative spelling of
missus .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun informal term of address for someone's wife
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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If Grover wasn't so stand-offish, we might tell her about it, and she could tell the Saint -- that's what we call the missis; the Saint would soon put a stop to all that nonsense.
Esther Waters 1892
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"Good-mornin ', missis; and why are you sittin' out thar, when thar is such a nice cabin to be in?"
Six Months in Mexico 1888
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He called the missis, and they got her into the kitchen and gave her a cup of tea and put her to bed, and she'll never get up again, it seems.
Women of the Country Gertrude Bone
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"That's the missis, that is," said Mr. Mardon, in a lower and semi-confidential voice.
The Old Wives' Tale Arnold Bennett 1899
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Can't you see that we're both Pups in the Wood and the missis is the cruel uncle after you with the dish towel and me with the flea liniment and a pink bow to tie on my tail.
The Four Million O. Henry 1886
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She was very glad they were good to-night, because, as "missis" was away, she had made up her mind to go to a party herself, the house-maid having promised to run up to the nursery if she heard the children calling.
Harper's Young People, November 4, 1879 An Illustrated Weekly Various
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He implored me to beg "missis" to forgive him, and I couldn't help taking his part, though
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Very likely she found it embarrassing to be called the "missis," and this was why she could neither eat last night nor stay here today.
Look Back on Happiness Knut Hamsun 1905
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The girl who had come down the stairs with the message from the "missis" was no servant, but Eilert's young wife.
Look Back on Happiness Knut Hamsun 1905
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The master could not do much; he had long, long hours in his business; but I used to watch Ursula, morning after morning, superintending her domain, with her faithful attendant Jem – Jem adored his "missis".
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