damsel — a young unmarried woman, especially in literature or fairy tales
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a young unmarried woman, especially in literature or fairy tales
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdæmzəl/
Example Sentences
- The dating app bio said 'not a damsel in distress,' but she couldn't open a pickle jar.
- Every fairy tale seems to have a damsel waiting in a tower.
- She refused to play the damsel and fixed her own flat tire.
damsel
NOUN[/ˈdæmzəl/]
a young unmarried woman, especially in literature or fairy tales
Image coming soon
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Middle French 'damoisele,' which originally referred to a young woman of noble birth or a lady's attendant. Over time, the meaning evolved to denote a young woman in distress awaiting rescue, particularly in romance and chivalric literature.
Breakdown
Middle French 'damoisele' (young noblewoman) → English 'damsel.' The Old French root 'dame' (lady) combined with the diminutive suffix '-oisele' created the sense of a young or unmarried lady of rank.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The dating app bio said 'not a damsel in distress,' but she couldn't open a pickle jar.”
“Every fairy tale seems to have a damsel waiting in a tower.”
“She refused to play the damsel and fixed her own flat tire.”
“The superhero movie tried to avoid the classic 'save the damsel' plot.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.