Meaning of grande dame | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character, especially one who is advanced in age and haughty.
   also, attributive
2. A woman who is accomplished and influential, and is a respected senior figure in a particular field; a doyenne.
   also, attributive
3. A very highly regarded and well-known institution or structure, or large conveyance such as a ship.
   also, attributive, figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“In general the Continental, or at least the Belgian old women permit⟳ themselves a license⟳ of manners, speech, and aspect, such as our venerable grand-dames would recoil from as absolutely disreputable, […]”

“You only 'make⟳ love⟳' languidly to some grande dame, who blinds him with sandal-wood and stifles him in lace; […]”

“Now the Baronne de Ribaumont Walwyn was a veritable grande dame, and Madame Croquelebois, in spite of her sharp nose, and sharper tongue, was quite cowed by her, and absolutely driven to confess that she had not heard a word against Madame la Contesse.”

“Do you no longer want⟳ to go to Europe? to court? to be grande dame and converse with princes?”

“"Beatniks," snorted one grande dame as she pushed her way toward her chauffeur-driven limousine.”

“She has been buying (under my guidance) new clothes and she looks quite the grande dame.”

“Died. Ruth St. Denis, 90, grande dame of modern dance⟳, whose foresight and inspiration helped change⟳ the U.S. from a choreographic wasteland to what is today one of the world's foremost centers of dance⟳; […]”

“As the grande dame of Latin American actresses, Norma Aleandro is accustomed to having choice roles gravitate in her direction.”

“Carlton […] Returned to its former glory, this is the grande dame of all Bilbao hotels.”

CEFR level