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Ma'am   /mæm/   Listen
Ma'am

noun
1.
A woman of refinement.  Synonyms: dame, gentlewoman, lady, madam.






WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University








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"Ma'am" Quotes from Famous Books



... "Well, you see, ma'am"—the Colonel's smile was charming in spite of his wild beard—"we've done such a lot o' dancin' lately—done nothin' else for forty days; and after seven hundred miles of it we're just a ...
— The Magnetic North • Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)

... one animal to the other. "Ah cyant see nothin' I'se done fergot, Miss Ste'son. What it look lak ain't on de hawses, ma'am?" ...
— A Dixie School Girl • Gabrielle E. Jackson

... room for doubt, ma'am, but I'm about to send the man, the valet, over to see him. Do you wish any one else to ...
— Vicky Van • Carolyn Wells

... ma'am," said the fish boy. "In fact, I'd like to, but their father didn't say anything about it. Besides, I'll have to walk back from East Milford after I leave the ark there to be fixed. It'd be too far ...
— Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue and Their Shetland Pony • Laura Lee Hope

... "Yes, Ma'am," said Mrs. Meager, "he did take the key with him. Amelia remembers we were a key short at the time he was away." The absence here alluded to was that occasioned by the journey which Mr. Emilius took to Prague, when he heard that evidence of ...
— Phineas Redux • Anthony Trollope

... the butt, ma'am," responded John Brien. "Put it up, for God's sake, and let you sit up with it. Sure the ass is ...
— Mount Music • E. Oe. Somerville and Martin Ross

... 'roun' so much they kain't git no flesh ontoe 'em. An', of co'se," she added argumentatively, "we all got to keep up the reppytation o' ouah cookin'. I kain't ask these yer men a dollah a meal—not fer no lean ole hen wif no meat ontoe her bones—no, ma'am." ...
— The Girl at the Halfway House • Emerson Hough

... ma'am; they guessed. There was a lady—a—a lunatic kept in the house. She had a woman to take care of her called Mrs. Poole, an able woman but for one fault—she kept a private bottle of gin by her; and the mad ...
— The Worlds Greatest Books - Vol. II: Fiction • Arthur Mee, J. A. Hammerton, Eds.

... a library!" said the man of rule and inches, with a tone of surprise that made Mrs. Fairchild color. "Did you wish a mirror here, ma'am," he ...
— Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 1 July 1848 • Various

... said she thought of trying a bath of oil. This remedy, perhaps, was recommended by some one of the number whose advice she asked; but the proposal, if ever it was made, was knocked on the head by Captain Brown's decided "Get her a flannel waistcoat and flannel drawers, ma'am, if you wish to keep her alive. But my advice is, kill the poor creature ...
— Cranford • Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

... absurd to think of such a thing, you know; the idea of your wasting your time! That's what I say to fellows; 'How can you waste your time, when you'll be dead before you know it anyhow, and not have had time to look about you, much less learn anything?' No, sir,—I beg your pardon, ma'am! A single life for me. My own time, my own ...
— Geoffrey Strong • Laura E. Richards

... grandma gave a tender kiss that made Polly glow like a rose, and for a minute she forgot that there were such things as pink silk and coral ear-rings in the world. She only said, "Thank you, ma'am," and heartily returned the kiss; but the words did her good, and her plain dress looked charming all ...
— An Old-fashioned Girl • Louisa May Alcott

... sir," persisted Eddy, with increasing eloquence. "Didn't I see him, me and Dan Murphy? Didn't we stand there by the coal-bin, sir? He booted him well, Mis' Parlin. I'll tell you where he did it; here on the left side, ma'am. Look where the hair sticks up! Pooty well mauled—ain't he, ma'am? Pete swore at him, too. Never heard such ...
— Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple • Sophie May

... his hat from his head and bowed to her. "Why, I reckon you have, ma'am," he said. "Didn't you have ...
— The Range Boss • Charles Alden Seltzer

... explained who she was. He became humbly civil at once. "I've just told her, ma'am," said he, "that his house is burning. The mob's gutting the New Day office ...
— The Conflict • David Graham Phillips

... the soldier who responded, "conduct this young woman to Dr. Denslow. Inform him that she is to be with us as a nurse, and ask him to be kind enough to assign her suitable quarters. Good afternoon, ma'am." ...
— The Red Acorn • John McElroy

... a pity, ma'am," said Holt, earnestly, "would it not be a pity for him to fail when he bore everything so well at first, and when he helped me so that I don't know what I should have done without him? He made me write to Mr Tooke, and so got me out of debt; and a hundred times, I am sure, the ...
— The Crofton Boys • Harriet Martineau

... "Which so simplifies matters, ma'am," replied the captain, "that I think we may consider a trade as already effected, and make bold to say that this season's pack of the Pretty Harbour lobster factory will be sold somewhere's else ...
— Under the Great Bear • Kirk Munroe

... scrutiny he turned to her with a puzzled line between his eyebrows. "Since you've spoken of it, ma'am, I will say that there's a something about the expression of the eyes ... and mouth, maybe ... that ain't just the professor. He was more absent-like. It reminds me of somebody else ... of some ...
— Hillsboro People • Dorothy Canfield

... to compose yourself ma'am," I said. "If you don't see the doctor again soon, under the gallows, you will probably not have the pleasure of meeting with him for some ...
— A Rogue's Life • Wilkie Collins

... to do with that, ma'am," Stanton replied. "The boss makes out the orders, and we go where we ...
— The Philistines • Arlo Bates

... orders, ma'am. And inasmuch as late rising is a favorite vice of the youth of today, it has been ordered that the reveille be played at six o'clock every morning before the doors of the royal Princes ...
— The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Vol. VII. • Various

... do it, ma'am,' replied the gardener. 'I look we shall have a merry Christmas, and I do like to see the room well ...
— Christmas, A Happy Time - A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons • Miss Mant

... "Face the truth, ma'am. If you're ever in a tight place, we'll send you what help we can, hard men, such as can't be raised in your cities, to keep the flag flying, but we stop there. Don't think we belong to you—we stand firm ...
— Prescott of Saskatchewan • Harold Bindloss

... she was of any importance in the world, except as his housekeeper, cook, washerwoman, and waiter-in-general, she might possibly inquire into the stewardship of her lord and master. And it seemed to me if that ever came to pass, a man who could say "no" so cavalierly, without even a "thank you, ma'am," or, "you're quite welcome," both could and would manage to make surroundings rather disagreeable to the party of the second part. So far no person who has thought much, read much, or suffered much, has ...
— History of Woman Suffrage, Volume III (of III) • Various

... truth," she said, mournfully: "one like me should not be ashamed to be a servant. And so, lady, if you will take me, I will go with you and serve you; and poor and ignorant as I am, I can serve you,—yes, ma'am," she added, eagerly, "I can serve you more and better than you think,—indeed, indeed ...
— Nick of the Woods • Robert M. Bird

... "And 'ere's a letter, ma'am, which has come for you by post this morning," said the nice old stewardess, producing an envelope from her pocket, and eying her patient ...
— What Katy Did Next • Susan Coolidge

... annoyed to find herself blushing under his keen gaze. But when Mrs. Murray presented Ranald to her niece, it was his turn to blush and feel awkward, as he came forward with a triangular sort of movement and offered his hand, saying, with an access of his Highland accent, "It is a fine day, ma'am." It required all Maimie's good manners to keep back the laugh that fluttered upon ...
— The Man From Glengarry - A Tale Of The Ottawa • Ralph Connor

... repeated, in quite another tone. "I was made aware there was a lady about, by that Pedro of ours; only I didn't know I should have the privilege of seeing you tonight, ma'am." ...
— Victory • Joseph Conrad

... agreed Marm Parraday, who chanced to be the recipient of this opinion. "Ye could expec' Janice Day to do just what she done—an' I tell 'em all so. She ain't no namby-pamby, Susie-Sozzles sort of a gal—no, ma'am! ...
— The Mission of Janice Day • Helen Beecher Long

... would never do it intentionally, ma'am, but I'm scared you'll do it without thinking; you talk of it so much, more than anything. The other night when you began to talk of the crime of miscegenation, I thought I ...
— Senator North • Gertrude Atherton

... at Mrs. Munger, as if doubtful what to do. Then he said: "You seem not to have understood me, ma'am. I should be to blame if I left you in doubt. You have been guilty of forgetting your brother's weakness, and if the consequence has promptly followed in his shame, it is for you to realise it. I wish you ...
— Annie Kilburn - A Novel • W. D. Howells

... laughed. "'Old Jack' is what we call him, ma'am! The other wouldn't be respectful. He's never 'Major Jackson' except when he's trying to teach natural philosophy. On the drill ground he's 'Old Jack.' Richard, he says—Old Jack says—that not a man since Napoleon has understood the use ...
— The Long Roll • Mary Johnston

... boy clutched at the wasp, and finally caught it. The yell that followed caused joy to the entire car, for every eye was on the boy. The mother woke again. "Mary," she cried, "let him have it!" Mary turned calmly in her seat, and with a wicked twinkle in her eye said: "Sure, he's got it, ma'am!" This brought the car down. Every one in it roared. The child's mother rose up in her seat with a jerk. When she learned what the matter was, she pulled her boy over the back of the seat, and awoke some sympathy ...
— Donahoe's Magazine, Volume 15, No. 2, February 1886 • Various

... right, ma'am," quoth the imperturbable Frank. "But as I was saying, this is a pitiable business, this about poor Archie; and you and I might do worse than put our heads together, like a couple of sensible people, and bring it to an end. Let me tell you, ma'am, that Archie is really ...
— Weir of Hermiston • Robert Louis Stevenson

... one else, ma'am, and father had to have his medicine regularly," Agnes replied gravely. "Even when Doctor Evans did send a nurse, she used to fall asleep at night, and ...
— Little Folks (July 1884) - A Magazine for the Young • Various

... she is saying, "O, ma'am, that's sweet! Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, our Redeemer: no man can redeem his brother, no money,—nothing—but only the precious ...
— Far Off • Favell Lee Mortimer

... ma'am! We hoped some day you'd take that table. Kind of kept the view for you," said Father, with panting gallantry, fairly falling over himself as he rushed across the floor to pull out their chairs and ...
— The Innocents - A Story for Lovers • Sinclair Lewis

... that moment too greatly embarrassed to notice much concerning her appearance. Probably he did not notice even this until later. However, he took her hand, moved it up and down, dropped it again and said: "I—I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am." ...
— Shavings • Joseph C. Lincoln

... all about dat boy dese children say was in Boston? Please, Ma'am! Ain't nobody know how to dance dat way but Sneezer. And he didn't like his name, Ebenezer Caliper Spotiswood Meiggs. No'm, he didn't like it at all, 'cause we-all shortened it ...
— Six Little Bunkers at Mammy June's • Laura Lee Hope

... ma'am," replied Mrs. Brobson, the chief nurse; "but I don't think as these gardings is anyways equal to the Tooleries—nor to Regent's Park even. When I were in Paris with Lady Fitz-Lubin we took the children to the Tooleries or the Bore de Boulong every day—but, ...
— The Lovels of Arden • M. E. Braddon

... "Oh yes'm—yes, ma'am; sir, I mean; I mean, Oh, yes, indeed! The'a! It does sound just as well, don't it?" Clementina laughed in triumph at the outcome of her efforts, so that a reluctant visional smile came upon Gregory's face, too. I'm very mach obliged to you, Mr. Gregory—I shall always want to do ...
— Henry James, Jr. • William Dean Howells

... to tell the story. That English poke in your collar is too short by the distance between Troy and London. A plain gold link cuff-button would take all the shine out of those pearl ones with diamond settings. Those tan shoes would be exactly the articles to work into the heart of a Brooklyn school-ma'am on a two weeks' visit to Lake Ronkonkoma. I think I caught a glimpse of a blue silk sock embroidered with russet lilies of the valley when you—improperly— drew up your trousers as you sat down. There are ...
— The Voice of the City • O. Henry

... lady offering her condolence to a poor Irishwoman on the death of her child, who stated that she had never been more affected than on the event; the poor woman, knowing the hollowness of the compliment, answered with all the quickness of her country, "Sure, then, Ma'am, that is saying a great deal, for you were always affected." Lord Byron laughed, and said my apropos was very wicked—but I maintained it was very just. He spoke much more warmly of Moore's social attractions as a companion, ...
— The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Vol. XX. No. 556., Saturday, July 7, 1832 • Various

... will be very proper, ma'am. I always supposed it would be so when Miss Caroline was gone," said ...
— The Bertrams • Anthony Trollope

... quarts of strawberries, ma'am. They are five cents a quart; that's what they are ...
— A Son of the Hills • Harriet T. Comstock

... table behind you, and you will see is this a scarce house! That is what is set out for yourselves, ma'am, lobsters from Aughanish! A fat turkey from the barley gardens! A spiced and larded sucking pig! Cakes and sweets and all sorts! It is not the want of provision was ever brought against us ...
— Three Wonder Plays • Lady I. A. Gregory

... "Never thought there was, ma'am," said Gager. "And there's nothing wrong as I know of with the young woman." Then the husband and wife consulted together, and Mr. Gager was asked to take a seat in a little parlour, while the woman ran up-stairs ...
— The Eustace Diamonds • Anthony Trollope

... "You have sons, ma'am?" he persisted, with that implacable optimism to which, among other things, he no doubt owed his success in ...
— Punch, or the London Charivari, July 1, 1914 • Various

... England, the Princess of Wales, and all other female members of the royal family are addressed as "Ma'am"; the Prince of Wales and the male members as "Sir," and never, except by tradesmen, as "Your ...
— The Complete Bachelor - Manners for Men • Walter Germain

... "Thank you, ma'am; I'll leave it till I go to bed, if you please." Much reason had I subsequently to be thankful for ...
— Faces and Places • Henry William Lucy

... month or two at Lyng, had been gradually discarded as too ineffectual for imaginative use. Mary had, indeed, as became the tenant of a haunted house, made the customary inquiries among her few rural neighbors, but, beyond a vague, "They du say so, Ma'am," the villagers had nothing to impart. The elusive specter had apparently never had sufficient identity for a legend to crystallize about it, and after a time the Boynes had laughingly set the matter down to their profit-and-loss account, agreeing that Lyng was one of the few houses good enough ...
— The Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton, Part 2 (of 10) • Edith Wharton

... ma'am, if I had thought I was particularly wrang, I wadna hae made ony answer when Sir Arthur challenged me. I hae been lang in his service, and he has been a kind master, and you a kind mistress, and I wad like ill ye should think I wad start for a hasty word. I am sure ...
— The Antiquary, Complete • Sir Walter Scott

... Ma'am! I've just picked it up. Can't stop to find the owner. Worth a dollar, Ma'am; but if you'll ...
— Atlantic Monthly, Volume 11, Issue 67, May, 1863 • Various

... the children in her class, "What was the sin of the Pharisees?" "Eating camels, ma'am," was the reply. The little girl who answered had read that the Pharisees "strained at gnats and swallowed camels." "In what condition was the patriarch Job at the end of his life?" questioned a teacher of a stolid-looking boy. "Dead," was the ...
— Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's Stories - A Book for Bairns and Big Folk • Robert Ford

... man of the woods, or whangee-tangee, the most untameable—good heavens, ma'am, take care!" and he seized hold on the unfortunate woman and pulled her away ...
— Tom Brown at Oxford • Thomas Hughes

... natural born engineer," said the man, whose business as "line rider" was to keep up the wire fencing from one end of the ranch to the other. "I don't know how much he knows, but I know what he can do. Queer thing, ma'am! There don't seem to be much that ...
— The Second Latchkey • Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson

... winked at him, and the old fellow believing that he knew what was wanted, thus answered: "Yes, ma'am, but I first heard it from the priest. He knows everything, it seems. I met him down the road and had quite a talk with him. By the way, I read a number of years ago a most edifying book, 'The Prince of the House of David.' You doubtless have it in your collection, ...
— An Arkansas Planter • Opie Percival Read

... settlement of New Thermopylae, three days this side of Eden. Any attention, sir, that you can show Toe Mrs Hominy upon the journey, will be very grateful Toe the Major and our fellow-citizens. Mrs Hominy, I wish you good night, ma'am, and a pleasant ...
— Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit • Charles Dickens

... "Indeed, it was not, ma'am. Alexander said himself, and I heard him, 'there is a long letter for Mrs. Archibald this morning,' and we were all that pleased as ...
— A Knight of the Nets • Amelia E. Barr

... Virgil's principle—Alternis dicetis, amant alterna Camaenae—relate in turn anecdotes of Johnson's way of life, his witty sayings, &c., &c. Sir John Hawkins, as judge of the contest, gives neither a prize; tells the lady, "Sam's Life, dear ma'am, will only damn your own;" calls the gentleman "a ...
— Letters of Horace Walpole - Volume II • Horace Walpole

... "Well, ma'am," continued Mr. Berriman, "I don't know where you find the needful for all these improvements. For my part, I can only say, our trade seems quite at a stand-still. There's my wife always begging for money to pay for this or that little necessary article, but I part from ...
— Select Temperance Tracts • American Tract Society

... "Please, ma'am, that's a question I prefer to ask of you—and with a great deal more reason!" returned Ted. "Of all the nervy things I ever saw, it's you prowling around the Danforths' closed bungalow and sneaking out like a thief when you thought no one was around!" Leslie felt herself turn red ...
— The Dragon's Secret • Augusta Huiell Seaman

... kitchen seemed to resume its former appearance. Jearje was the one who restored it. He ate so heartily, and spoke so cheerily at breakfast and at supper, it almost made them forget their troubles to see anyone so grateful and pleased with all they did for him. "Thank you, ma'am; dest about a good bit a' bacon, this yer"—locally the "d" and "j" were often interchangable, dest for jest, or just—"That'll be a' plenty for I, ma'am, doan't want more'n I can yet"—don't want more than I can eat, don't want to be greedy—"Thank you, miss; dest about some ripping good ...
— Amaryllis at the Fair • Richard Jefferies

... 'Ma'am,' said Mr Boffin, 'the Court (if I am the Court) does object. The Court objects for two reasons. First, because the Court don't think it fair. Secondly, because the dear old lady, Mrs Court (if I am Mr) ...
— Our Mutual Friend • Charles Dickens

... "Never, Ma'am, nor did I ever see any other ghost in this country that I was sure was a ghost, but—Ireland, dear old Ireland, oh, that's an ancient land, and they have both ghosts and fairies and banshees too, and many's the story I've heard over there, and from my own dear ...
— Adopting An Abandoned Farm • Kate Sanborn

... a deeper shade, and he fidgeted with embarrassment, as he took her hand in his great red paw, then dropped it suddenly as if it were hot. "Oh, stow it, ma'am, stow it," he begged. "That is, I mean to say—why, by jolly, ma'am, a pirate could do no less when he see a fine bit of cargo like that ...
— The Puritan Twins • Lucy Fitch Perkins

... had a fine emotional time. She was mistress of a home—their home together. She shopped and was called "Ma'am" by respectful, good-looking shopmen; she designed meals and copied out papers of notes with a rich sense of helpfulness. And ever and again she would stop writing and sit dreaming. And for four bright week-days she went to and fro to accompany and meet Lewisham and listen greedily ...
— Love and Mr. Lewisham • H. G. Wells

... the States, ma'am, yesterday," interposed the driver; "two ladies, real heavy apes, two gentlemen, weighin' two hundred apiece, and a stout young man on the box with me. You'd 'a' thought the horse was drawin' an empty carriage, ...
— Henry James, Jr. • William Dean Howells

... I'd want you, but leave those lads to me.' So they came in, and the prince saluted her most kindly, towld her who he was, and begged lave to put up his horse. Then she asked him 'how her husband and the Gubbaun were?' But he gave her a full account of all I've told you, as far as he knew. 'But, ma'am,' says the prince, very gracious intirely, 'there is an instrument that the Gubbaun can't do without, that he wants to polish the stones,' says he, 'and my father's so fond of them both,' says he, 'that he wouldn't let him or Boofun ...
— Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 5 November 1848 • Various

... name, ma'am, is Cow, But my name is Crow. Oh, give me some milk, please, For if you do so The pain will be borne, Deer will give me his horn, And I'll dig a clean rill For the water to fill; Then I'll wash beak and feet ...
— Tales Of The Punjab • Flora Annie Steel

... was plumb disgusted with the fool way I'd rigged myself up, but, fortunately for me, Darragh, the station-man, came out with the girl. 'There's Reddy, from your ranch now, ma'am,' says he, and when he caught sight of me, 'What's the matter, ...
— Red Saunders • Henry Wallace Phillips

... McChesney, ma'am. Good even'! Well, it suh't'nly has been a long time sense Ah had the pleasuh of yoh presence as passengah, ma'am. ...
— Emma McChesney & Co. • Edna Ferber

... thoughts were on my own poor prospects and I didn't quite catch what she said. On the principle that a rose by any other name would still have its thorns, I didn't ask her to repeat it. I just said, "Thank you, ma'am," in my best tramp manner and set off down the road to the sea. On the way my left boot burst and a pebble worked in through the opening and set me limping. To make matters worse the day was perhaps the hottest of all that memorable ...
— The Lost Valley • J. M. Walsh

... dropped in to take a cup of tea and talk over the last piece of gossip. Among other things the wine was mentioned, and the maid sent to get some from the cellar. She soon returned, and gasping for breath, rushed into the room, exclaiming, "'Tis all gone, ma'am;" and sure enough it was all gone. "The ghost has taken it"—not a drop was left, only the empty cask remained; the side was half eaten away, and marks of sharp teeth were visible round the ragged margins of the newly ...
— Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 6 • Various

... "Yes, ma'am. I locked it a-purpose.... I thought as it would keep the police employed a bit when they come. I seen my cousin Sarah when I went to tell Miss Ingate as you instructed me. My cousin Sarah seen Keeble. They been to Frinton to Mrs. Spatt's, and ...
— The Lion's Share • E. Arnold Bennett

... (very politely)—Not necessarily, ma'am; it will probably accomplish more if you put it on ...
— The New Pun Book • Thomas A. Brown and Thomas Joseph Carey

... in the scene with Ophelia, I said, 'What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven?' somebody called out, loud enough for me to hear him, 'Ay! what, indeed?' It's very odd. Did you notice it, ma'am?" he continued addressing the lady who performed Ophelia. "I can't say I did," replied the lady, biting her lips most unmercifully, to preserve ...
— The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 366 - Vol. XIII, No. 366., Saturday, April 18, 1829 • Various

... under his breath, which to an acute ear might have sounded like "Oh, Jemima!" but he looked so very disconsolate they could not help being sorry for him as he immediately replied, soberly enough, "I am sorry. I can't think of any place else to go, ma'am. I'm real tired, for I've been walking this long time in the loose snow. Will you permit me to sit and rest for a time on the doorstep right outside here till I can think what ...
— What Necessity Knows • Lily Dougall

... than ever now, and as soon as she could speak she sobbed out in a faint voice, "O ma'am, I cannot do right,—I cannot be good." Mrs. Mordaunt sat down beside her and said, "Don't despair, my child; you know the little song you sing in school. Try again and again until you succeed. Every one succeeds who goes ...
— Amy Harrison - or Heavenly Seed and Heavenly Dew • Amy Harrison

... was not diligent I ought not to go, ma'am. Miss Wood was far more industrious than I, and many ...
— Ruth • Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

... afraid, ma'am, I promise you," he replied, laughing as he spoke; although he really did not feel one-half so merry as he made out; for he could see the baleful eyes of the watching McGee fastened upon them at that minute, as he stood not far away. "I came here on purpose ...
— Chums in Dixie - or The Strange Cruise of a Motorboat • St. George Rathborne

... That lady, ma'am, that brought some flowers a little while ago, is here again. [Pointing.] The flowers you have in your ...
— Hedda Gabler - Play In Four Acts • Henrik Ibsen

... in his amazement; then he turned and roared to the gaping and snickering soldiers, "Get out of here, every doodle of you, and be—to you!" Keeping his back to the bed, he said, "I pray your pardon, ma'am, for disturbing you; our spies assured us that only Hessian officers ...
— Janice Meredith • Paul Leicester Ford

... please, ma'am, I'll take the baby fer a spell, while ye give the boy his supper," ...
— Nancy McVeigh of the Monk Road • R. Henry Mainer

... the cook, is just going, ma'am. There's just William and me left. And the men have already come to board up the windows and ...
— No. 13 Washington Square • Leroy Scott

... "Why indeed, ma'am," said Morrice, "I must own her appearance is rather against her: I had myself a great aversion to her at first sight. But the house is chearful,—very chearful; I like to spend a few days there now and then of all things. Miss Bennet, too, is ...
— Cecilia Volume 1 • Frances Burney

... master, please, ma'am—a Mr. Digby," she said to Faith. "He's come a long way to see him he says, and that if he might wait he'd be glad, as it's very important." She hesitated. She knew how shy Faith was, and how as a rule she avoided seeing anybody. ...
— The Beggar Man • Ruby Mildred Ayres

... "Upon my word, ma'am, I said nothing insulting," replied the angered clerk. "Miss Silvia asked for a spittoon, and I showed her one. Of course people do not want spittoons unless they use tobacco, do they? I am sure I meant no harm. I only wanted ...
— The Youth's Companion - Volume LII, Number 11, Thursday, March 13, 1879 • Various

... to burn it up, if she'd 'a' been a mind to; only it made me ache to see it go so, when there was thousands of poor starvin' ragged orphans needin' it so bad. All to once Miss Jaynes wheeled and spoke to me: 'Well, Miss Tira,' says she, 'can I have a dollar from you?'—'No, ma'am,' says I.—'I supposed not,' says she; which would have been sassy in anybody but the parson's wife. But I held my tongue, and out she went, takin' no more notice of me than she did of Vi'let, nor half so much,—for ...
— The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 1, Issue 2, December, 1857 • Various

... times. At last the policeman told him to come on and Paul and his silver continued their homeward journey. When Mrs. Boyton saw her truant son under police escort, she turned pale, but the officer called out, "Don't be frightened, ma'am, he's all right. You ought to be proud of this boy," and he told her the story of the rescue and handed over the silver. The mother's eye's beamed with pleasure as she listened. She praised her gallant little son and thanked the officer for his kindness. After he was gone she put ...
— The Story of Paul Boyton - Voyages on All the Great Rivers of the World • Paul Boyton

... 'I am, my dear ma'am; and look at me—sixty-two, and as brisk as a bee. I don't know the meaning of the word illness. In a good hour be it spoken,' added Miss Whichello, thinking she was tempting the gods. 'By the way, what is this about his lordship ...
— The Bishop's Secret • Fergus Hume

... "Why so, ma'am?" said her son, warmly; "and why should we mind what the world says? The world is so fond of scandal, that a man and woman cannot have any degree of friendship for one another without a hue and cry being immediately raised—and all ...
— Tales and Novels, Vol. V - Tales of a Fashionable Life • Maria Edgeworth

... certainly do, ma'am. This was always a great place for bears. That's why they call this end of the lake Bear Camp. I shot one of 'em here last winter, and I got an old she-bear and her two cubs here two years ...
— Dave Porter At Bear Camp - The Wild Man of Mirror Lake • Edward Stratemeyer

... "you'd better go right up stairs and take off them clothes—for the boy's been sent arter 'em more'n fifty times. Frank borried them clothes, ma'am," she added to Julia, by way of explanation, "to look smart when ...
— The Three Brides, Love in a Cottage, and Other Tales • Francis A. Durivage

... many people's been after me to do jobs that I'm fairly torn to pieces among um. And it's 'Professor' here, and 'Professor' there, and 'Professor' everywhere, till I think my senses will leave me, ma'am." ...
— Ishmael - In the Depths • Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth

... 'Do you think, ma'am, we might use that beautiful ribbon for our garland? It would still do for Mother's patchwork if ...
— Chatterbox, 1905. • Various

... do very well, ma'am," he said, "if you'll be good enough to let him alone for five minutes. Now, Georgey, suppose you sit on my knee, and tell me ...
— Lady Audley's Secret • Mary Elizabeth Braddon

... in an envelope, ma'am. But Cook is sure she heard no knock—not while I was out. So Dr Ferguson must have ...
— The Return • Walter de la Mare

... the jury asked a question, not without obvious hesitation. 'Then was there never anything of the nature of what they call Words between you and your husband, ma'am?' ...
— Trent's Last Case - The Woman in Black • E.C. (Edmund Clerihew) Bentley

... Mrs. Donovan murmured helplessly. "Will you come down to my rooms, ma'am," she said to Mrs. Black, as she tried to remember her manners and not think how she was to tell Larry the truth. Why, this child was undersized rather than over. Her mother might have weighed a hundred and twenty-five pounds when she was ...
— Mary Rose of Mifflin • Frances R. Sterrett

... ma'am," said Peter Walsh, "if you'll wake him, for what I'm wanting to say to him is particular and he'll be sorry after if there's any delay ...
— Priscilla's Spies 1912 • George A. Birmingham

... prim school ma'am as she had called herself, answered between crying and laughing, "Oh, I don't care for him. Why, he is only twenty-four and I am twenty-eight. And I can never leave these people here. I am so in love ...
— The High Calling • Charles M. Sheldon

... seat and set down, ma'am," he said politely. "Is there anything in my lines I can ...
— Philo Gubb Correspondence-School Detective • Ellis Parker Butler

... "You've been dozing off, ma'am," said she, soothingly. "I hadn't been gone more'n a minute; but folks does get the cur'usest notions, dreaming ...
— Little Grandmother • Sophie May

... "No, ma'am," said Donald, "it's not a truce. That implies war and we haven't fought. It's not armed neutrality; it's not even watchful waiting. It's my friend, Linda Strong. Me for her and her for me, if ...
— Her Father's Daughter • Gene Stratton-Porter

... is one to enjoy the humour of an amusing situation alone? and, to tell the truth, the six foot of plush and powder before me was somewhat alarming to my female timidity. I hear now the man's startled "I beg your pardon, ma'am." ...
— The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 355, October 16, 1886 • Various

... "Ma'am," said he to the baker's wife, "Mother sent me for a loaf of bread." The woman took from the shelf a four-pound loaf, the best one she could find, and put it into the ...
— The Ontario Readers - Third Book • Ontario Ministry of Education

... that I had been so sociable with, came up with some dishes in his hand, which he set down on the table, then spread his hands a little, as much as to say, politely: "Set to, ma'am, and ...
— Phemie Frost's Experiences • Ann S. Stephens

... morning and came down; but her looks were ghastly; she tasted no food, and as soon as possible left the breakfast-room. Her mother was going in quest of her when old nurse came with an anxious face to say,—'Ma'am, I am afraid Miss Edmonstone must be very ill, or something. Do you know, ma'am, her bed has not been ...
— The Heir of Redclyffe • Charlotte M. Yonge

... to learn this 'ere language, ma'am. They call an accident a Unglueck; if any one could tell me what that means, I'd ...
— The First Violin - A Novel • Jessie Fothergill

... not, ma'am," ses Bill, "but I think you'd find 'im somewhere in Australia. He keeps changing 'is name and shifting about, but I dare say you'd 'ave as good a chance of finding ...
— Short Cruises • W.W. Jacobs

... does all he can; but he's a cripple and an invalid. He reels my yarn, and specks the children's shoes. He's as kind a husband as a woman need to have.' 'But his being a cripple is a heavy misfortune to you,' said I. 'Why, ma'am, I don't look upon it in that light,' replied the thread-woman; 'I consider that I've great reason to be thankful he never took to any bad habits.' 'How many children have you?' 'Six sons, and five darters, ma'am.' 'Six ...
— The American Frugal Housewife • Lydia M. Child

... went to bed early. Well, when I came up, and passed her door, I noticed something—somebody in that room was—smoking! I could not be mistaken. And this morning I questioned the housemaid. 'Yes, ma'am,' she said, 'her ladyship smoked two cigarettes last night, and Mrs. Tinkler'—that's the maid—'says she always smokes two before she goes to bed.' Then I spoke to Tinkler—whose manner to me, I consider, is not at all what it should be—and she said that Connie ...
— Lady Connie • Mrs. Humphry Ward

... "Yes, indeed, ma'am," said Joe; "and if Nep hadn't barked so, the drefful cretur would have bitten me sure. That dog knows a heap; you'd better allus take him with you in the woods, Miss Rachel. I was lyin' off sound asleep, with this critter ...
— Prince Lazybones and Other Stories • Mrs. W. J. Hays

... the quaint remark, and, rising from her seat, said: "I shall not soon forget our little talk, but must leave you now for the 'school ma'am's' duties. One of them will be to endeavor to persuade Pauline that it was not Henry VIII. who sought to reduce the American Colonies to submission, nor Lafayette who won the battle of Waterloo. Good-bye," and away tripped Miss Howard over ...
— Caps and Capers - A Story of Boarding-School Life • Gabrielle E. Jackson

... disputing lately on the respectability of each other's family, concluded the debate in the following way:—"Mrs. Doyle, ma'am, I'd have you know that I've an uncle a bannister of the law." "Much about your bannister," retorted Mrs. Doyle; "haven't I a first cousin a corridor ...
— Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 1, October 30, 1841 • Various



Words linked to "Ma'am" :   grande dame, woman, madame, adult female



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