madam
mad.am \'mad-*m\ \ma--'da:m, -'dam\ n or madams; or mes.dames [ME, fr. OF ma dame, lit., my lady] pl pl 1: LADY - used without a name as a form of respectful or polite add ress to a woman 2: MISTRESS - used as title formerly with the given name but now wi th the surname as an equivalent of Madame or esp. with a designation of rank or office {Madam Chairman} {Madam President} 3: the female head of a house of prostitution 4: the female head of a household : WIFE