What did
you call me?
Are
personal titles becoming obsolete? Once upon a time in a world that seems so
far, far, away, we addressed each other formally (especially in public) with
societal or royal titles. Just call me …
DOYENNE
(doi enʹ, dwä yenʹ; female version of DOYEN, doiʹɘn) – n.: [French] the senior member of a group, esp. one regarded as an
authority because of superior knowledge and long experience. [WW#46]
Well,
I can claim the looonng experience anyway. And I much prefer doyenne to “Dame”
(British female equivalent of knighthood) or “Madam” (more popular as the US
“authority” of a bordello).
“Sir,”
“Madam,” “Miss,” “Mr.,” “Mrs.” or “Ms.,” were once common forms of addressing
each other, and still appear on forms – but do you ever checkmark those boxes anymore?
