Definition

1. Noun (Proper noun):
   • Our Lady / The Blessed Virgin Mary: A respectful and reverential title used in Catholicism and some other Christian contexts to refer to Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. It conveys honor and sanctity.
   • Princess / Noble Lady (Archaic): A historical, formal title of respect for a woman of high royal or noble rank, equivalent to "princess" or "lady." This usage is now largely obsolete.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Religious):
  • Giáo dân cầu nguyện với Đức Bà. (The faithful pray to Our Lady.)
  • Nhà thờ này thờ Đức Bà. (This church is dedicated to Our Lady.)
• Noun (Archaic/Honorific):
  • Đức Bà của vương quốc đã rất nhân từ. (The Princess of the kingdom was very gracious.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đức Bà Đồng Trinh": The Virgin Mary.
  • Tín ngưỡng về Đức Bà Đồng Trinh. (The belief in the Virgin Mary.)
• "Đức Mẹ": A more common contemporary Vietnamese term for the Virgin Mary, often used interchangeably with "Đức Bà" in religious contexts.
  • Đức Mẹ được tôn kính. (The Mother of God is venerated.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đức Mẹ (n): Mother of God, a common term for the Virgin Mary.
• Bà (n): Lady, Madam; a general term of respect for an older or esteemed woman.
• Đức (n): Virtue, grace; a title prefix denoting respect and moral excellence, used in terms like "Đức Cha" (Bishop) or "Đức Thánh Cha" (the Pope).

Synonyms

• Our Lady: The primary English equivalent in a Catholic context.
• The Blessed Virgin Mary: The full formal title.
• The Virgin Mary: A common name.
• Princess: The equivalent for the archaic secular title.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Nhà thờ Đức Bà": Notre-Dame Cathedral (literally, "Church of Our Lady").
  • Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn là một địa danh nổi tiếng. (Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon is a famous landmark.)
• "Tượng Đức Bà": Statue of Our Lady.
  • Tượng Đức Bà bằng đá cẩm thạch. (A marble statue of Our Lady.)