- (initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: a Portuguese title prefixed to a woman's given name.
- (in Portuguese-speaking countries) a lady or gentlewoman.
Origin of dona
1615–25; < Portuguese < Latin domina, feminine of dominus
- (initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: a Spanish title prefixed to a woman's given name.
- (in Spanish-speaking countries) a lady or gentlewoman.
Origin of doña
1615–25; < Spanish < Latin domina, feminine of dominus
timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
[tim-e-oh dah-nah-ohs et doh-nah fe-ren-tes; English tim-ee-oh dan-ey-ohs et doh-nuh fuh-ren-teez]
- I fear the Greeks even when they bear gifts (I fear treacherous persons even when they appear to be friendly). Vergil's Aeneid: I, 2:49.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dona
Dona Keefe, the mom from Indianapolis, is all-too-familiar with this during-school, after-dinner, full-time gangster business.The Mafia Moms
September 30, 2010
"I will obey you in all things, Dona Margaret," he answered humbly.Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard
The Cross, however, is out of fashion, and so is the Dona Dulcinea motive.The Book of Khalid
Each, lying like Dona Brites on an altar-tomb, is clad in full armour.Portuguese Architecture
Walter Crum Watson
Gaspar Ruiz saw the dark eyes of Dona Erminia look down at him.A Set of Six
I had to tell him that Dona Antonia, as a matter of fact, was not back in town yet.Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
- a Portuguese title of address equivalent to Mrs or Madam : placed before a name to indicate respect
C19: from Latin domina lady, feminine of dominus master
- a Spanish title of address equivalent to Mrs or Madam : placed before a name to indicate respect
C17: via Spanish, from Latin domina; see Dona
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012