Beldame

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛldəm/

Definitions

1. An ugly or frightening old female figure, often depicted as a witch or malevolent elderly character in folklore and literature
2. An old and often malicious woman, commonly portrayed in stories as a witch or an intimidating figure associated with malevolence and age
3. A fearsome elderly woman, frequently described in traditional tales as a witch or a sinister character embodying the archetype of a malevolent matron

Etymology: The history of "beldame" is a sharp reversal: its first half is a compliment. "Bel" came into Middle English from Old French, where "bel" meant "beautiful" and descended from Latin "bellus," meaning "fine" or "handsome." The second half, "dame," was a respectful term for a lady or mother, ultimately from Latin "domina," "mistress" or "lady." Put together, the early sense was something like "fair lady" or "fine mother." Somewhere along the way the flattering sense soured. By the time the compound took its settled form in Middle English in the 1400s, the word was already being used for an elderly woman, and its meaning drifted toward a woman who was old and unattractive. The "fine" in the first element had become ironic, and the word now carries a note of scorn.

Synonyms: old woman, hag