grande dame

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from French grande dame, from grande (the feminine form of grand (“great, grand”)) + dame (“lady”). Doublet of grandam. The plural form grandes dames is borrowed from French grandes dames. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): (both singular and plural) /ˌɡɹɒ̃ ˈdɑːm/, /ɡɹɒn(d)-/ (General American) IPA(key): (both singular and plural) /ˌɡɹɑnd ˈdɑm/, /ˌɡɹænd-/ Rhymes: -ɑːm, -ɑm === Noun === grande dame (plural grandes dames) (also attributive) A woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character, especially one who is advanced in age and haughty. [from early 18th c.] Synonyms: dowager, (socially prominent woman) doyenne, grande madame A woman who is accomplished and influential, and is a respected senior figure in a particular field; a doyenne. (figurative) A very highly regarded and well-known institution or structure, or large conveyance such as a ship. ==== Derived terms ==== Grande Dame Guignol ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === “grande dame”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.