mistress
UK: ˈmɪstrəs | US: ˈmɪstrəs
n. a woman in a position of authority or control (e.g., head of a household)
n. a woman having an extramarital sexual relationship with a married man
n. (archaic) a female teacher or skilled practitioner (e.g., "mistress of the arts")
mistress = mistr<master> + ess<feminine suffix>
- mistr (variant of "master" <leader, ruler>, from Latin magister)
- ess (feminine suffix, from Old French -esse, Latin -issa)
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Old French maistresse, the feminine form of maistre (master). The Latin root magister (leader, teacher) evolved into maistre in Old French, with the feminine suffix -esse added to denote gender. Over time, "mistress" broadened from a neutral term for a woman in authority to its modern dual meaning (respectful title vs. illicit partner), reflecting societal shifts in gender roles and power dynamics.
She was the mistress of the estate, managing all affairs with precision.
The scandal revealed he had a mistress for over a decade.
In medieval times, a mistress might oversee the education of noble children.
The novel’s antagonist is a cruel mistress who abuses her servants.
As a mistress of diplomacy, she negotiated the treaty successfully.