different between mistress vs favourite

English

Etymology

From Middle English maistresse and Old French maistresse (French maîtresse), feminine of maistre (“master”). This may be broken down as mister +? -ess.

Pronunciation

• enPR: m?s?tr?s, IPA^(key): /?m?st??s/

Noun

mistress (plural mistresses)

1. A woman, specifically one with great control, authority or ownership

   Synonyms: (applicable to either sex) boss, (applicable to either sex) head, (applicable to either sex) leader

   male equivalent: master

2. A female teacher

   Synonym: schoolmarm

   male equivalent: master

3. The other woman in an extramarital relationship, generally including sexual relations

   Synonyms: (applicable to either sex) bit on the side, fancy woman, comaré, goomah; see also Thesaurus:mistress

   Antonyms: cicisbeo, fancy man

4. A dominatrix

   male equivalent: master

   • 2006, Amelia May Kingston, The Triumph of Hope (page 376)

     As part of BDSM play they can enhance the domineering tread of a mistress or hobble the steps of a slave.

5. A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it

   • A letter desires all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic.

6. a woman regarded with love and devotion; a sweetheart
7. (Scotland) A married woman; a wife
8. (obsolete) The jack in the game of bowls
9. A female companion to a master (a man with control, authority or ownership)
10. female equivalent of master
11. female equivalent of mister

Usage notes

In the extramarital sense, mistress is often narrowly taken to mean a woman involved in a committed extramarital relationship (an affair), often supported financially (a kept woman). It can also be broadly taken to mean a woman involved in an extramarital relationship regardless of the level of commitment, but requires more than a single act of adultery.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

mistress (third-person singular simple present mistresses, present participle mistressing, simple past and past participle mistressed)

1. (transitive, rare) Of a woman: to master; to learn or develop to a high degree of proficiency.
2. (intransitive) To act or take the role of a mistress.

See also

• (titles) (of a man): Mr (Mister, mister), Sir (sir); (of a woman): Ms (Miz, mizz), Mrs (Mistress, mistress), Miss (miss), Dame (dame), (of a non-binary person): Mx (Mixter); (see also): Dr (Doctor, doctor), Madam (madam, ma'am) ^{(Category: en:Titles)}

References

English

Alternative forms

• (American English) favorite

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French favorit, from Old French favorit or Italian favorito (“favoured, favourite”), past participle of Italian favorire (“to favor”). Doublet of favori.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fe?v.??t/

Adjective

favourite (not comparable) (Britain, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, South Africa)

1. Preferred or liked above all others (unless qualified).

   This is my second favourite occupation.

   Antonyms: least favorite, unfavourite, unfavorite

2. Belonging to a category whose members are all preferred or liked over nonmembers.

   I just saw a movie with all my favourite actors in it.

Translations

Noun

favourite (plural favourites) (Britain, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, South Africa)

1. A person or thing who enjoys special regard or favour.

   Antonyms: unfavourite, unfavorite

2. A person who is preferred or trusted above all others.
3. A contestant or competitor thought most likely to win.

   You were my favourite to win the spelling competition.

   Synonym: top dog

4. (Internet) A bookmark in a web browser.
5. (in the plural) A short curl dangling over the temples, fashionable in the reign of Charles II.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Farquhar to this entry?)

Related terms

Translations

Verb

favourite (third-person singular simple present favourites, present participle favouriting, simple past and past participle favourited) (Britain, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, South Africa)

1. To favour.
2. (Internet) To bookmark.
3. (Internet) To add to one's list of favourite items on a website that allows users to compile such lists.

   Antonyms: unfavourite, unfavorite

Derived terms

• fave