dame
dame — 名詞
1. a prestigious British title that is awarded to a woman whose work has strongly b
女爵
英國授予女性的榮譽頭銜
a prestigious British title that is awarded to a woman whose work has strongly benefited society over many years; the title is placed before her first name, just as 'Sir' is placed before a man's name
Wren was awarded the title of Dame in 2022 for her work in improving schools.
Wren 因改善學校教育的貢獻，於 2022 年獲授女爵頭銜。
title usage — Dame + given name
Defne was overjoyed when the palace announced she had been made a Dame.
Defne 得知王室宣布授予她女爵稱號時，欣喜若狂。
be made a Dame (passive of appointment)
A local newspaper called Dame Sivan a true pioneer in the field of medical research.
地方報紙稱 Sivan 女爵為醫學研究領域真正的先驅。
Guests at the ceremony cheered loudly when Dame Manuela received her special honour.
頒獎典禮上，當 Manuela 女爵領取殊榮時，來賓們熱烈歡呼。
- Lady
Also a title for women in the UK, but 'Lady' often comes from being the wife of a lord or a baronet, while 'Dame' is an honour earned through personal achievement.
- Baroness
A specific rank in the peerage; a Dame is not necessarily a peer, whereas a Baroness holds a hereditary or life peerage title.
- Sir
The male equivalent title, used before a man's given name.
文法句型
Dame + [given name]
be made a Dame
make someone a Dame
用法筆記
The title always comes before the woman's given name, not before her surname — for example, 'Dame Camille', not 'Dame Brown'. Frequently passive in expressions like 'be made a Dame' or 'be awarded the title of Dame'.
常見錯誤
2. a woman; an informal and slightly old-fashioned way of referring to a woman, esp
女人
對女性的非正式老派稱呼
a woman; an informal and slightly old-fashioned way of referring to a woman, especially in American film noir or detective stories from the mid-1900s
The film noir character was a mysterious dame with a hidden past.
這部黑色電影的角色是一名身世神祕的女子。
film noir context — dated use of 'dame' for a woman
"Who is that dame in the red dress?" asked the old soldier.
「那個穿紅洋裝的女人是誰？」老士兵問道。
Chidi's grandfather still uses the word 'dame' when talking about women.
Chidi 的祖父提到女性時，仍會用「dame」這個老派字眼。
In the old novel, every dame at the party wore long satin gloves.
在那本舊小說裡，宴會上的每位女士都戴著緞面長手套。
文法句型
a + adjective + dame
that dame
用法筆記
This sense is dated and can sound old-fashioned or slightly disrespectful if used in modern conversation. It survives mainly in period films, vintage crime fiction, and affectionate imitation of that style.
常見錯誤
3. a comic older-woman role in a traditional British stage show for children, perfo
諧星老婦
英國聖誕劇中由男演員扮演的滑稽老婦角色
a comic older-woman role in a traditional British stage show for children, performed during the Christmas season; the part is nearly always performed by a male actor in bright, over-the-top clothing and makeup
The pantomime dame wore a huge purple hat and told silly jokes.
這齣聖誕童話劇的諧星老婦戴著一頂巨大的紫色帽子，說著無厘頭的笑話。
Linh laughed when the dame pretended to bake a giant rubber cake on stage.
Linh 看到諧星老婦在臺上假裝烤一個巨大橡膠蛋糕時，笑得停不下來。
pantomime dame — slapstick comedy tradition
Every year, the local theatre hires a man to play the dame.
每年當地劇院都會聘請一名男演員來扮演諧星老婦。
The children in the audience shouted warnings to the dame about the sneaky villain.
臺下的孩子們大聲向諧星老婦喊叫，提醒她注意那個鬼鬼祟祟的反派角色。
文法句型
the dame
play the dame
用法筆記
This sense is specific to British pantomime culture and is rarely understood outside the UK. The dame is always a comic figure — not a serious female role — and the part is traditionally played by a man in drag with exaggerated makeup.
常見錯誤
4. a woman of high social rank or noble birth; a woman who behaves with the grace a
貴婦
地位崇高或舉止高尚的女性（古語用法）
a woman of high social rank or noble birth; a woman who behaves with the grace and dignity associated with a high social position — now largely used only in historical or literary contexts
In the old story, a noble dame lived in a castle by the sea.
在那個古老的故事中，一位高貴的貴婦住在海邊的城堡裡。
archaic register — noble rank
The queen appointed a wise and loyal dame to manage the royal household.
女王指派了一位睿智忠誠的貴婦來管理王室事務。
An ancient poem describes a gentle dame who gave food to the village poor.
一首古詩描述了一位溫柔的貴婦將食物分送給村裡的窮人。
The historian wrote about a powerful dame who ruled the region in the fifteenth century.
歷史學家記述了一位在十五世紀統治該地區的權勢貴婦。
- noblewoman
A clearer modern term for a woman of noble birth; avoids the ambiguity of 'dame'.
- lady
In historical contexts, 'lady' is the more common and less confusing term for a woman of rank.
- matriarch
Describes a woman who holds authority in a family or group, without the noble birth requirement.
文法句型
a + adjective + dame
用法筆記
This sense is archaic and appears almost exclusively in historical fiction, period dramas, or literary descriptions of medieval or Renaissance society. Avoid using it in modern writing — readers are likely to interpret it as the 'Dame' title (sense 1) or the informal 'woman' sense (sense 2).