Feminine of Nouns starting with 'M'

The feminine of Maharajah is Maharani.

Rule: These are royal titles from Sanskrit, where the feminine form is a different word.

Definitions:

• A Maharajah is an Indian prince of a rank higher than a rajah.
• A Maharani is the wife of a maharajah or a woman who is a reigning princess in her own right.

Examples:

• The Maharajah of Jaipur was known for his opulent palace.
• The Maharani was celebrated for her charity work and elegance.

The feminine of Man is Woman.

Rule: This is one of the most fundamental pairs in English, using entirely different words.

Definitions:

• A Man is an adult male human being.
• A Woman is an adult female human being.

Examples:

• A young man asked for directions to the station.
• That woman is a talented musician.

The feminine of Manservant is Maidservant or simply Maid.

Rule: In this compound noun, the gendered part ('man') is replaced with its feminine counterpart ('maid').

Definitions:

• A Manservant is a male servant.
• A Maidservant (or Maid) is a female servant.

Examples:

• The wealthy family employed a manservant to act as a butler.
• In the historical drama, the maidservant was responsible for cleaning the rooms.

The feminine of Marquis is Marchioness.

Rule: This is a title of nobility with a specific, irregular feminine form.

Definitions:

• A Marquis is a nobleman ranking above a count and below a duke.
• A Marchioness is the wife or widow of a marquis, or a woman who holds the rank in her own right.

Examples:

• The Marquis de Lafayette was a French aristocrat who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
• The Marchioness hosted a lavish party at her country estate.

The feminine of Masseur is Masseuse.

Rule: These terms, borrowed from French, have distinct masculine and feminine endings.

Modern Usage: The gender-neutral term "Massage Therapist" is now widely preferred in professional contexts to avoid gender stereotypes.

Definitions:

• A Masseur is a man who provides massage as a profession.
• A Masseuse is a woman who provides massage as a profession.

Examples:

• He worked as a sports masseur for the football team.
• She booked an appointment with a masseuse at the spa.
• My doctor recommended I see a licensed massage therapist. (Neutral)

The feminine of Master is Mistress.

Rule: A traditional pair with different word forms.

Note on Usage: "Mistress" has acquired a primary meaning of a woman in a long-term affair with a married man, so its use as a simple feminine for "master" (like the head of a household or a female teacher) is now archaic. The term "Headmistress" is an exception where it remains in use.

Definitions:

• A Master is a man who has people working for him, or who is in control of something. It can also refer to a young boy as a formal title (e.g., Master Smith).
• A Mistress is a woman in a position of authority or control. (Archaic usage).

Examples:

• The dog was loyal to its master.
• The mistress of the house gave orders to the staff. (Archaic)

The title Mister (Mr.) has several feminine counterparts.

Rule: The feminine forms depend on the marital status or preference of the woman.

Forms:

• Mistress (Mrs.): Used for a married woman.
• Miss: Traditionally used for an unmarried woman or girl.
• Ms.: A neutral title used for a woman regardless of her marital status. It is the most common default in professional contexts.

Examples:

• Please give this package to Mr. Jones.
• Mrs. Davis is our next-door neighbor.
• The award was presented to Miss Emily White.
• You have a meeting with Ms. Carter at 3 PM.

The feminine of Milkman is Milkmaid.

Rule: The masculine suffix '-man' is replaced with the feminine suffix '-maid'.

Note: Both terms are now largely historical due to changes in how milk is delivered and produced.

Definitions:

• A Milkman is a man who sells or delivers milk.
• A Milkmaid is a girl or woman who works in a dairy, traditionally one who milks cows.

Examples:

• In olden days, the milkman would leave glass bottles on the doorstep.
• The painting depicted a milkmaid carrying a pail.

The feminine of Millionaire is Millionairess.

Rule: The feminine is formed by adding the suffix "-ess".

Modern Usage: It is becoming increasingly common to use "Millionaire" as a common gender noun for any person with a million dollars or more.

Examples:

• The tech entrepreneur became a self-made millionaire. (Can be male or female)
• The newspaper wrote a story about the reclusive millionairess. (More specific, slightly formal)

The feminine of Monk is Nun.

Rule: This religious pair uses entirely different words.

Definitions:

• A Monk is a member of a religious community of men living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
• A Nun is a member of a religious community of women.

Examples:

• The Buddhist monk lived a life of simple contemplation.
• The nun taught at the local convent school.

The feminine of Merman is Mermaid.

Rule: The gendered prefix 'mer-' (from Old English 'mere' meaning sea) is combined with 'man' or 'maid'.

Definitions:

• A Merman is a mythical male creature with the upper body of a man and the tail of a fish.
• A Mermaid is a mythical female creature with the upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish.

Examples:

• The story told of a powerful merman who ruled the ocean depths.
• Ariel, the little mermaid, dreamed of living on the land.

The noun Magician is a common gender noun.

There is no direct feminine form. Related terms for a female magic-user include "Sorceress," "Enchantress," or "Witch," but these have different connotations and are not direct feminine versions of "magician."

Examples:

• The magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat. (Can be male or female)
• She is a famous stage magician.

The noun Manager is a common gender noun.

An old feminine form, "Manageress," is now considered archaic and is rarely used. The professional title "Manager" applies to anyone in the role.

Examples:

• The hotel manager addressed the customer's complaint.
• She was promoted to regional manager last year.

The noun Mayor is a common gender noun.

The historical feminine form, "Mayoress," typically referred to the wife of a male mayor, not a woman holding the office herself. Today, a woman elected as mayor is simply called the Mayor.

Examples:

• The Mayor announced a new initiative to improve city parks.

The noun Murderer is a common gender noun.

The form "Murdress" is extremely rare and archaic. "Murderer" is used for anyone who commits murder.

Examples:

• The police arrested the murderer.

The nouns Monkey and Mouse are common gender nouns.

There are no specific single-word terms in common English for their genders. To specify, you would use a prefix:

• Male monkey / Female monkey
• Male mouse / Female mouse (A male mouse can also be called a 'buck' and a female a 'doe', but this is technical.)

The word masculine is an adjective that describes qualities associated with men. Its opposite is the adjective feminine. It is not a noun that refers to a person.