hlæfdige

From hlāf (“bread”) + a second element representing Proto-Germanic *daigijǭ (“kneader”) (compare dāg (“dough”), cf. dæge). See also hlāford.

• IPA^(key): /ˈxlæːfˌdiː.je/, [ˈl̥æːvˌdiː.je]

hlǣfdīġe f

1. a lady, the mistress of a household
2. noblewoman; queen
3. a form of courteous address; lady
4. the Virgin Mary

• As feminine equivalents of æþeling, eorl, and þeġn never developed, this was generally the title given to every noblewoman from the rank of baroness to princess.

• Middle English: lady, laddy, ladi, ladie, ladij, ladye, lavedi, lefdi, lefdy, levedi, levedy, lhevedi, lafdi, laffdiȝ, læfdi, lævedi, leafdi
  • English: lady (see there for further descendants)
  • Scots: lady, leddy
  • Yola: laady