ladyship, n.
(ˈleɪdɪʃɪp)
Forms: see lady and -ship. Also 7–8 colloq. la'ship.
1. The condition of being a lady; rank as a lady.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 100 Ȝif þu hauest uorȝiten nu þi wurðfule lefdischipe,—go & folewe þeos geat. c 1230 Hali Meid. 7 And trukie for a mon of lam þe heuenliche lauerd & lutlin her lafdischipe. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 577 More haf I of ioye & blysse here-inne, Of ladyschyp gret & lyuez blom. 1623 Massinger Bondman iii. iii, How dost thou like Thy ladyship, Zanthia? 1771 Contempl. Man II. 152 This Lady did not enjoy her Title long—she died in the fifth Year of her Ladyship. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits Wks. 1874 II. 134 What facility and plenteousness of knighthood, lordship, ladyship, royalty, loyalty! 1874 Trollope Lady Anna iv. 26 He hated the countess-ship of the countess, and the ladyship of the Lady Anna. |
2. The personality of a lady. In
her ladyship,
your ladyship, a respectful substitute for
she,
you, referring to a lady; in
mod. use only to one whose rank is designated by the titular prefix ‘Lady’. Also used
sarcastically.
| c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 191 She..drof hym forthe, vnnethe list her knowe That he was servaunt vn to hir ladishippe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 3352 Ne trawes not, tru lady, þat I take wolde Thy ladyship to losse, ne in lust holde. a 1400–50 Alexander 3715, I leue it to ȝour ladyschip þis lange noȝt vnknawen. a 1500 Flower & Leaf lxxi, Yet I would pray Your ladiship..That I might knowe..What that these knightes be in rich armour. 1551 Crowley Pleas. & Pain Ded., I thought it my duty to dedicate the same vnto youre Ladishyppes name. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. i. ii. 120 If it please your Ladiships, you may see the end. 1650 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 174 Lord Jermyn in a jeering manner, as her ladyshipp conceaved, told her he hoped now shortly Sir Edward Herbert would returne to Paris. 1700 Congreve Way of World ii. v, O Mem, your Laship staid to peruse a Pecquet of Letters. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 37 ¶1, I waited upon her Ladyship pretty early in the morning. a 1839 Praed Poems (1865) II. 34 Her ladyship is in a huff. |
| fig. 1595 Shakes. John iii. i. 119 Thou Fortunes Champion, that do'st neuer fight But when her humorous Ladiship is by To teach thee safety. |
† b. concr. = lady.
Obs.| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 301 My sone, of that unkindship, The which toward thy ladiship, Thou pleignest, for she woll the nought, Thou art to blamen of thy thought. |
c. nonce-use. One who is called ‘her ladyship’.
| 1784 Cowper Task ii. 386 Constant at routs, familiar with a round Of ladyships, a stranger to the poor. |
† 3. Kindness or beneficence befitting a mistress.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 128 This maide..To whom this lady hath behote Of ladiship all that she can To vengen her upon this man. Ibid. III. 66 Tho quod the quene..I wol do the such ladiship, Wherof thou shalt for evermo Be riche. |
4. A district governed by a lady.
nonce-use.
| 1709 Steele Tatler No. 46 ¶3 All that long Course of Building is under particular Districts or Ladiships, after the Manner of Lordships in other Parts. |
Hence
ˈladyship v. trans. (
nonce-wd.), to give the title of ‘Your Ladyship’ to. Also
to ladyship it.
| 1813 E. S. Barrett Heroine (1815) III. 9 ‘Ladyship! Oh, her ladyship!’ and away he cantered, ladyshipping it, till he was out of hearing. 1820 Hermit in London IV. 165 He so ladyshiped Lady ― what's her ugly name, that it was quite disgusting. |