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Added 6 October 2026

mistress

/ˈmɪs.tɹɪs/ noun

In Latin: domina Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about mistress at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A woman, specifically one with great control, authority or ownership.
She was the mistress of the estate-mansion, and owned the horses.
A female head of household.
A female teacher.
games mistress

verb

Of a woman: to master; to learn or develop to a high degree of proficiency.
To act or take the role of a mistress.

Origin

From Middle English maistresse, from Old French maistresse (whence French maîtresse), feminine of maistre (“master”). By surface analysis, mist(e)r + -ess.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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