demoiselle
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌdɛm.əˈzɛl/
- Archaic
:
dama
- The demoiselle had three arms, which held out a mirror, a washbasin, and a sconce.
Examples
-
Everyone admired the demoiselle at the ball, dressed beautifully in her elegant gown.
-
And what would have been your place, ma chère demoiselle?
-
"You know you are one gorgeous demoiselle?"
Fiction book (1993) -
The demoiselles appear not hideous or sickly to me; however, they are plain and strong.
Academic text (1994) -
The young demoiselle strolled through the garden, enjoying her first taste of freedom.
-
In the story, the demoiselle yearned for adventure beyond the walls of her family home.
Synonyms
126
8.8
A young woman who is not married
112
9.9
An unmarried girl or young woman often mentioned in old stories
53
8.2
A French word for a young or unmarried woman
32
9.6
A young woman often shown as delicate and needing help in old stories
9
1.0
A woman who is not married
A young unmarried woman who appears in old stories
A young unmarried woman in old stories or poems
A young unmarried woman in old stories
Young unmarried women, especially those who have not had sex
A girl or young woman who is not married
A young woman who is not married and lives alone and supports herself
How Formal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Demoiselle comes from French demoiselle, a small form of dame meaning 'lady', and is the same root as the English damsel. So a demoiselle originally meant a young or unmarried 'lady', which is why it appears in old or literary English.