missy

«missy» in Mova's school dictionary: A way of speaking to a young girl, often in a playful… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

part of speech

noun (missy — informal, usually as a form of address)

meaning for a pupil

1) (informal) A way of speaking to a young girl, often in a playful, teasing or slightly cross way: «Listen, missy!» tree →

2) (old use) A young lady; a miss. tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories and everyday life, a parent, grandparent or teacher might say «Now then, missy» when a girl is being cheeky. It can sound bossy or old-fashioned. Phrases: young missy, little missy.

examples

• «Don't you talk back to me, missy!» said Grandma. tree →
• «Come along, little missy, time for bed.» tree →
• The shopkeeper winked: «What can I get for you, missy?» tree →
• «Listen here, young missy, homework first.» tree →
• Missy is also a nickname for girls named Melissa. tree →
• My uncle calls my sister «missy» when she bosses him around. tree →
• “There’s none can save you now, missy,” Mullins hissed jeeringly. tree →

note

Informal; usually used to talk TO a girl, not about her. It can sound cross or patronising, so it is not polite to use with grown women. «Missy» can also be a name (a nickname for Melissa).

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «missy» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.