Miladies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term used to address women of noble or gentle birth in a respectful manner, often associated with high social status
2. A plural form of a term that conveys courtesy or formality when referring to ladies
3. An expression that embodies chivalry, typically used in contexts of manners or etiquette when speaking to women of distinction

Etymology: "Miladies" is the plural of "milady," so it is the form used when addressing or referring to more than one noblewoman or lady. "Milady" itself is a partly colloquial pronunciation of "my lady," the English phrase that a servant or courtier would use when speaking to a woman of rank. The spoken run-together form of "my" and "lady" was then written down as a single word. The term also passed through French, which borrowed the English "my Lady" as "milady," and English speakers later took that French form back. The same pattern produced "milord" for "my lord," so the two words are close relatives that followed a parallel path between the two languages.