dama
UK[ˈdɑːmə]US[ˈdɑːmə]
n
A title of respect for a lady, especially one of rank in various European countries.
n
(archaic) A lady; a gentlewoman.
Etymology
The word 'dama' entered English as a direct borrowing from Spanish and Portuguese, where it functions as a title meaning 'lady' or 'mistress of the house'. Its lineage traces back to the Latin 'domina', the feminine form of 'dominus' (lord, master), which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root dem- meaning 'house, household'. The semantic journey is from the foundational concept of the 'house' (dem-) to the Latin 'mistress of the house' (domina), and finally to the modern European title of respect for a lady of rank. It is a cognate of the English words 'dame' and 'madam', all sharing the same Latin ancestor.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Latin and later Romance languages. It is not productively formed from smaller English morphemes.
Examples
The ambassador was accompanied by the dama de honor.
In historical contexts, a dama might preside over a large estate.
The portrait was labeled simply as "Portrait of a Dama".