noun
beldame
Beldame (noun) means a person's grandmother.
noun
1
A person's grandmother.
2
An old woman, especially one seen as unattractive or unpleasant.
"Suddenly the beldam shrieks as if she's been stuck with a dagger, long rasping insuck of breath: ‘Eeeeeeeee!’"
— TC Boyle, Water Music (1982)
"The tablets upon which the events of the day were recorded refer to enchantresses, and we can conclude that they were by no means restricted to ancient beldames."
— Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art (1936)
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Etymology
Inherited from late Middle English (1400–1450) beldame, beldam, from Middle English bel (“attractive, fine, good”) — from Old French bel (“beautiful”), from Latin bellus — plus dame, dam (“a mother, lady”), which itself goes back ultimately to Latin domina (“a mistress, lady”).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for beldame
See all rhymes for beldame →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of beldame?
"beldame" (noun) means a person's grandmother.
What is another word for beldame?
Other words for "beldame" include witch, beldam, crone, hag.
What are the different meanings of beldame?
"beldame" has 2 main meanings: 1. A person's grandmother; 2. An old woman, especially one seen as unattractive or unpleasant.