Nearby Words

damsel

[dam-zuhl] Example Sentences Origin

dam·sel

[dam-zuhl]
noun Literary.
a young woman or girl; a maiden, originally one of gentle or noble birth.

Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English damisel < Anglo-French (Old French damoisele) < Vulgar Latin *dominicella, equivalent to Latin domin(a) lady (see dame) + -i- -i- + -cella feminine diminutive suffix
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Damsel is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Example Sentences
  • The wind whips flags, horses' manes and the hair of a beautiful damsel.
  • Your chair might sympathize with you as a damsel in distress.
  • Get into the atmosphere with this lightweight, springy do it all damsel.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
damsel (ˈdæmzəl)
 
n
archaic, poetic or a young unmarried woman; maiden
 
[C13: from Old French damoisele, from Vulgar Latin domnicella (unattested) young lady, from Latin domina mistress; see dame]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

damsel
1199, from O.Fr. dameisele, modified by association with dame from earlier donsele, from Gallo-Romance *domnicella, dim. of L. domina "lady" (see dame). Archaic until revived by romantic poets, along with 16c.-17c. variant form damozel.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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