MISTRESS

mistress. Mistress, n. a woman who governs, a concubin

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Mis″tress (?), n. [[OE. maistress, OF. maistresse, F. maîtresse, LL. magistrissa, for L. magistra, fem. of magister. See Master, Mister, and cf. Miss a young woman.]] 1. 1. A woman having power, authority, or ownership; a woman who exercises authority, is chief, etc.; the female head of a family, a school, etc.
The late queen's gentlewoman! a knight's daughter! To be her mistress' mistress! Shak. 2. 2. A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it.
A letter desires all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic. Addison. 3. 3. A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one's heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart. Clarendon.
4. 4. A woman filling the place, but without the rights, of a wife; a concubine; a loose woman with whom one consorts habitually. Spectator.
5. 5. A title of courtesy formerly prefixed to the name of a woman, married or unmarried, but now superseded by the contracted forms, Mrs., for a married, and Miss, for an unmarried, woman.
Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul). Cowper. 6. 6. A married woman; a wife.
Several of the neighboring mistresses had assembled to witness the event of this memorable evening. Sir W. Scott. 7. 7. The old name of the jack at bowls. Beau. & Fl.
To be one's own mistress, to be exempt from control by another person.