grande dame

(grănd′ dăm′, gränd′ däm′)

n. pl. grandes dames also grand dames (grănd′ dăm′, gränd′ däm′)

1. A highly respected elderly or middle-aged woman.

2. A respected woman having extensive experience in her field: the grande dame of women's professional tennis.

3. A building or institution regarded as noteworthy on account of its age and historic prominence.

[French : grande, great + dame, lady.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

grande dame

(ɡrɑ̃d dam)

a woman regarded as the most experienced, prominent, or venerable member of her profession, etc: the grande dame of fashion.

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

grande dame

(ˈgrɑn ˈdɑm, ˈgrɑnd)

n., pl. grandes dames (ˈgrɑn ˈdɑmz, ˈgrɑnd)

a usu. older woman of dignified bearing or great accomplishment.

[1735–45; < French: literally, great lady]

grande dame

A French term meaning great lady, used to describe a woman who is highly respected in her field.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun

grande dame - a middle-aged or elderly woman who is stylish and highly respected

gentlewoman, ma'am, madam, lady, dame - a woman of refinement; "a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady"

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

After half an hour's interview in the dining-room, during which they got in touch with each other in an amazing way, Rita told us in her best GRANDE DAME manner: "MAIS IL ESI PARFAIT, CET HOMME." He was perfect.

View in context

"And she is such a grande dame, so kind, and evidently likes me so much.

View in context

Yes, it was she--rich, and imposing, and seventy-five years of age--Antonida Vassilievna Tarassevitcha, landowner and grande dame of Moscow--the "La Baboulenka" who had caused so many telegrams to be sent off and received--who had been dying, yet not dying--who had, in her own person, descended upon us even as snow might fall from the clouds!

To all such questions he returned the same answer--namely, that the old lady was an influential foreigner, a Russian, a Countess, and a grande dame, and that she had taken the suite which, during the previous week, had been tenanted by the Grande Duchesse de N.

View in context

That again got overlaid by the sans-facon of a grande dame of the Second Empire.

View in context

You have seen her; you know what she is: tall, thin, light, imposing, and gentle, half a grande dame and half an angel; a mixture of pride and humility, of the eagle and the dove.

View in context

The grande dame of Hollywood was at the festival to promote her new film The Laundromat (don't be fooled by the name, it's about the Panama Papers scandal not Persil) and looked radiant in a silk-printed floral midi dress from Givenchy's autumn/ winter '19 collection.

DRESSED toimpress; WHICH CELEBRITIES EARNED STYLE POINTS THIS WEEK?

The grande dame of Hollywood was at the festival to promote her new film, The Laundromat (don't be fooled by the name, it's about the Panama Papers scandal, not Persil) and looked radiant in a silk-printed floral midi dress from Givenchy's autumn/winter '19 collection.

DRESSED toimpress; WHICH CELEBRITIES EARNED STYLE POINTS THIS WEEK?

PARIS (AFP) - Robbers snatched 40 gowns fit for beauty queens during a break-in overnight at the headquarters of the Miss France organising committee, the pageant's 86-year-old grande dame told AFP on Wednesday.

Robbers snatch 40 Miss France dresses in break-in

The grande dame of prose poetry has mellowed and her anger has been replaced with wistfulness about love

POETRY: ALONE IN THE CROWD

The royalty winners were: Carnival Queen - Alisha Marsh, Carnival Princess - Poppy Marsh, Carnival Prince - Spencer Horman and, specially chosen by nominations and votes, were the Grande Dame Valerie Martin and Grande Duke Paul Barton.

Royalty ready ahead of colourful Oswaldtwistle Carnival; A Queen, Princess, Prince, Grande Dame and Grande Duke have been chosen

A few blocks from the grande dame beachfront mainstays, a crop of new boutique hotels strikes a balance between crisp Mad Men-era aesthetics and a tropical vibe.