mistress Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
kept woman; fancy woman.
noun a woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)
schoolma'am; schoolmistress; schoolmarm.
noun a woman master who directs the work of others

OE. maistress, OF. maistresse, F. maîtresse, LL. magistrissa, for L. magistra, fem. of magister. See Master, Mister, and cf. Miss a young woman.

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.
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.
A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one's heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart. Poetic Clarendon.
A woman filling the place, but without the rights, of a wife; a concubine; a loose woman with whom one consorts habitually. Spectator.
A title of courtesy formerly prefixed to the name of a woman, married or unmarried, but now superseded by the contracted forms, Mrs., for a married, and Miss, for an unmarried, woman.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.
A married woman; a wife. Scot.
Several of the neighboring mistresses had assembled to witness the event of this memorable evening. Sir W. Scott.
The old name of the jack at bowls. Beau. & Fl.