Mrs. VS Mistress
By Mavic123456
@Mavic123456 (21893)
Thailand
April 23, 2013 11:29am CST
This is not an article about the Mrs and Mistress thus this is an article about the origin of the word MRS. We refer to married women as Mrs. (as mistress to the second lover of a married man, some called her a wh*re, oh well.
The history told that MR was taken from the Old English maegester or master which means a person in control or having authority. Furthermore, the MRS came from the word maistresse a term for mistress, or kept woman or a secret lover. It was only in the 17th century that the MRS came to address the wife of the Mr or the master’s wife.
Sources:
morguefile.com
hotword.dictionary.com
2 people like this
7 responses
@nitinnair89 (2900)
• India
23 Apr 13
Wow. I never knew this before. I can't still believe the term was kept for a man's secret love.
But if that was to be kept a secret, then why such a term was used? I mean, only the man and his lover would know as that was their secret. Then who else will use that word?
Interesting and informative topic Mavic. Good night. I will respond tomorrow. Lol.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
24 Apr 13
amazing twist of terms yeah until the 17th century
and what is amazing more about it, that even before the 17th century secret lovers were already "in trend"
thanks Nit. I am waiting for you comment. night
@nitinnair89 (2900)
• India
24 Apr 13
Yeah. I never thought that even in those eras, people might actually have secret love. Was it restricted to royal families only? Interesting indeed.
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
25 Apr 13
yes... hahaha.. though the were kept secret and if it is royal family hmmmm.. i can't say I might be persecuted and beheaded. but I know one. hahahah (gossip ... gossip)
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
24 Apr 13
hahaha of course they have changed it already from mistress term now to Mrs.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
24 Apr 13
I Understand that "The Master and the Mistress of the House" would be terms used in Period Literature for a Man and Wife..So You say the Wifely title of "Mrs" derived from the term for "The Other Woman"? I'd think there would be Married Women a bit put out by that,given that the "Mistress" term in that context would seem to indicate a degree of superiority!
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
24 Apr 13
I never thought of the Master and the mistress of the house as a man and wife. you could be true. but during that time I think women were not superior in terms of households titles. Remember the male chauvinism concept before? I don't know that's how I perceived it.
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
24 Apr 13
no Kokomo the Mrs are secret terms for the mistress and not the wife. the wife just turned out to be called Mrs after the 17th Century
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
24 Apr 13
welcoem Mrs. Godbless and you have a very nice surname. I will also carry that name if I have a good surname like yours. yes, the word was intended for secret lovers of the Misters... LOL
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
23 Apr 13
Well Mavic, this is so weird, the word refers to secret love. Is love so valuable that sometimes we have to kept it secret like a treasure? I don´t know! But I´m happy to be recognized in public nowadays as my husband´s wife 
Blessings Mavic... dainy
Blessings Mavic... dainy@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
23 Apr 13
oh yes, now Mrs. is for the legal wife. keeping it a secret for a mistress you know second woman and probably to spread rumors about the man and mistress. i think.
Blessing to you too Dainy
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