What does lady-in-waiting mean?
Definitions for lady-in-waiting
lady-in-wait·ing
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word lady-in-waiting.
Princeton's WordNet
lady-in-waitingnoun
a lady appointed to attend to a queen or princess
Wiktionary
lady-in-waitingnoun
A Lady in the household of a queen or princess who attends her as a personal servant, generally considered an honour.
lady-in-waitingnoun
A woman who is a servant to a lady. Similar to a valet for a gentleman.
Wikipedia
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting or court lady is a female personal assistant at a court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman but of lower rank than the woman to whom she attended. Although she may either have received a retainer or may not have received compensation for the service she rendered, a lady-in-waiting was considered more of a secretary, courtier, or companion to her mistress than a servant. In other parts of the world, the lady-in-waiting, often referred to as palace woman, was in practice a servant or a slave rather than a high-ranking woman, but still had about the same tasks, functioning as companion and secretary to her mistress. In courts where polygamy was practised, a court lady was formally available to the monarch for sexual services, and she could become his wife, consort, courtesan, or concubine. Lady-in-waiting or court lady is often a generic term for women whose relative rank, title, and official functions varied, although such distinctions were also often honorary. A royal woman may or may not be free to select her ladies, and, even when she has such freedom, her choices are usually heavily influenced by the sovereign, her parents, her husband, or the sovereign's ministers (for example, in the Bedchamber crisis).
ChatGPT
lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a woman who serves or attends a queen, princess, or other high-ranking female noble in a personal capacity. Her duties may include various personal services such as dressing, secretarial tasks, companionship, etiquette guidance, and occasionally advice on personal matters. The status of a lady-in-waiting can be quite high, as the role typically necessitates close association with royalty.
Wikidata
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a court, royal or feudal, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman whom she attended. Although she may or may not have received compensation for the service she rendered, she was considered more of a companion than a servant to her mistress. Lady-in-waiting is often a generic term for women whose relative rank, title and official functions varied, although such distinctions were also often honorary. A royal woman may or may not be free to select her ladies, and even when she has such freedom her choices have historically been constrained by the sovereign, her parents, her husband or the sovereign's ministers as, for example, in the so-called Bedchamber crisis.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of lady-in-waiting in Chaldean Numerology is: 9
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of lady-in-waiting in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4
Translations for lady-in-waiting
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"lady-in-waiting." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 13 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/lady-in-waiting>.
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