beldame

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A grandmother.
  2. An old woman, particularly an ugly one.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɛldəm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-beldame.wav

Word forms

beldame beldames beldam

Etymology

Inherited from late (1400–1450) Middle English beldame, beldam, from Middle English bel (“attractive, fine, good”) (from Old French bel (“beautiful”), from Latin bellus) + dame, dam (“a mother, lady”), itself ultimately from Latin domina (“a mistress, lady”).

Synonyms

Antonyms

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