|misə̇z, |misə̇s, |mizə̇z, |mizə̇s, (|)mis, _məs ( in the southern U S these last two forms occur chiefly before a Christian name ), (|)miz, _məz sometimes chiefly in substand speech or in the speech of older persons |misərz or |misrə̇s or |mizərz or |mizrə̇s or |mizrə̇z; the forms with z immediately following the first or only vowel occur chiefly in the southern U S noun
( plural mrs. any of the preceding two-syllable pronunciations ; or mes·dames (ˈ)mā|däm, -dam, -daa(ə)m, -dȧm)
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: from abbreviation of mistress (I)
1.
a. — used as a conventional title of courtesy except when usage requires the substitution of a title of rank or the substitution of an honorific or professional title before a married woman's surname
spoke to Mrs. Doe
may I have a word with you, Mrs. Doe
or sometimes before a married woman's surname with the given name of her husband or her own given name intervening
a Mrs. John Doe has left a message for you
b. — used before the name of a place (as a country, city) or of a profession or other line of activity (as a sport) or before some epithet (as clever ) to form a title applied to a married female viewed or recognized as especially outstanding in or as representative of the thing indicated
was elected Mrs. Homemaker
2. obsolete : mistress
3. obsolete — used as a conventional title of courtesy before the surname or before the given name and surname of an unmarried woman
4. : wife
pick up the Mrs. at the five-and-dime — Alan Kapelner