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