A young unmarried woman or girl, especially one of good family; also used as a polite form of address for a woman, particularly in French-speaking contexts.
From Old French 'demoiselle' (damsel), from 'dame' (lady). The word traveled into English via French and originally meant 'little lady,' preserving medieval social hierarchies in its diminutive form.
The demoiselle was the original 'lady'—respectable, educated, and not meant for manual labor—which is why the word almost vanished as people stopped caring about that exact social category in the 20th century.
French term for young unmarried woman; carries gendered status assumption that martial status defines female identity and carries diminutive, subordinate connotations.
Use only in historical or literary context; prefer 'young woman' or 'woman' in modern usage.
["young woman","woman","person"]
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