Mistress

n. [O. Eng. maistress, O. Fr. maistresse, N. Fr. maîtresse, It. maestressa, L. Lat. magistressa, magistrissa, magistrix, for Lat. magistra; Pr. majestru, maistra, Sp. & It. maestra, Pg. mestra, from Lat. magistra, f. of magister. See MASTER and MISTER.] 1. A female having power, authority, ownership, or the like; a woman who exercises authority, is chief, &c.; the female head of a family, a school, &c. My mistress here lies murdered in her bed. Shak. 2. A female well skilled in any thing, or having the mastery over it. A letter desires all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate’s Arithmetic. Addison.

3. A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one’s heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart.
4. A woman filling the place, but without the rights, of a wife; a paramour; a concubine.
5. Goodwife; married or matronly woman; madam;—a title or term of address, now unusual, being superseded by the abbreviated form Missis, which is written Mrs.

Several of the neighboring mistresses had assembled to witness the event of this memorable evening. W. Scott. 6. The jack at bowls. Beau. & Fl.