Mrs

The title "Mrs." is a contraction of the word "Mistress," which in Middle English (as maistresse) denoted a woman in authority, such as the female head of a household. Over time, "Mistress" was applied as a polite title for adult women, regardless of marital status. By the 17th century, the pronunciation shifted, and the abbreviated written form "Mrs." became standardized specifically for married women, distinguishing it from the title "Miss." The period in "Mrs." signifies its origin as an abbreviation, though it is now an integral part of the spelling for this specific social title.

The form "Mrs." is a contraction and honorific title, not productively formed from separable English morphemes. It originates from the title "Mistress."