ma'am

plural ma'ams · alternative mum

1. A form of address for a woman: contraction of madam.

   If I, ma'am, can be of the leaſt uſe—

   1765, Samuel Foote, The Commissary. A Comedy […], London: […] P[aul] Vaillant, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 8

   5 more examples

   Madam me no Madam, but learn to retrench your vvords; and ſay Mam; as yes Mam, and no Mam, as other Ladies VVomen do. Madam! 'tis a year in pronouncing.

   1668 June 22 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), John Dryden, An Evening’s Love, or The Mock-Astrologer. […], In the Savoy [London]: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1671, →OCLC, Act III, page 33

   Gad take my Soul, Mame, I hope I ſhall pleaſe you now— […] I vovv to Gad, Mame, I vvas ſo taken up vvith my good Fortune, I did not obſerve the extream Fancy of your Ladiſhip's VVedding-Cloaths— […]

   1697, [John Vanbrugh], “[Part I]”, in Æsop. A Comedy. […], 3rd edition, London: […] Richard Wellington, […], published 1702, →OCLC, Act V, page 45

   O yes Mem, I'll vouch any thing for your Ladyſhip's ſervice, be vvhat it vvill.

   1700, [William] Congreve, The Way of the World, a Comedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 74

   "You're very, very kind to me, ma'am," said Oliver.

   1837 August, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “In Which Oliver Is Taken Better Care of than He Ever Was Before. With Some Particulars Concerning a Certain Picture.”, in Oliver Twist; […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], published 1838, →OCLC, page 182

   You was wrong, mim, and I was right. I thought he wouldn't keep us up so late, two nights running, mim. Master's always considerate so far. I'm so glad, mim, on your account.

   1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 7.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 273

   Synonyms: 'm, marm

2. A polite and formal way to address a woman.

   Ma'am, will you be attending the dinner this evening?

3. A respectful term of address to a woman of higher rank or position.

   – Sergeant, have the platoon in formation and ready for inspection at 0800. – Aye aye, ma'am.

4. archaicA title for a married woman.

   That is Ma'am Smith, the matriarch of the Smith families.

   1 more example

   Yes, my dravving-room is an abſolute regiſter-office for candidate actors, and poets vvithout character;—then to be continually alarmed vvith Miſſes and Ma'ams piping hiſteric changes on Juliets and Dorindas, Pollys and Ophelias; […]

   1781, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Critic: Or A Tragedy Rehearsed […], London: […] T[homas] Becket, […], →OCLC, Act I, scene i, pages 4–5

   Synonyms: ball and chain, better half, boss, bride, dutch, 'er indoors, frow, geezer

5. USarchaiceducationA female schoolteacher; a schoolmarm.

   Synonyms: schoolma'am

present singular third person ma'ams · participle present ma'aming · participle past ma'amed · past ma'amed

1. informaltransitiveTo address (a woman) as "ma'am".

   ["]And, fellas, I've got to tell you that your Texas manners are perfect. Y'all have about ma'amed me to death. But you can call me Lucy from here on out. Got it?" / "Yes, ma'am—I mean, Lucy," Joseph complied, taking the sledgehammer and grinning as he looked from it to the blue wall.

   2014, Debra Clopton, Her Unexpected Cowboy, New York, N.Y.: Harlequin Love Inspired, →ISBN, page 42