King James Bible Dictionary

MIS'TRESS, noun [Latin magistra.]

1. A woman who governs; correlative to servant, slave, or subject.

My mistress here lies murdered in her bed.

2. The female head of a family.

3. That which governs; a sovereign. Rome was mistress of the world.

4. One that commands, or has possession and sovereignty. The queen is mistress of the Indies.

5. A female who is well skilled in any thing; as, she is mistress of arithmetic.

6. A woman teacher; an instructress of a school.

7. A woman beloved and courted.

8. A woman in keeping for lewd purposes.

9. A term of contemptuous address.

MIS'TRESS, verb transitive To wait upon a mistress; to be courting.

MIS'TRESS-SHIP, noun Female rule or dominion.