Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One that produces, designs, or deals in women's fashions.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A woman who deals in articles of fashion, particularly in women's apparel; a milliner or dressmaker.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One, esp. a woman, who makes, or deals in, articles of fashion, esp. of the fashionable dress of ladies; a dress-maker or milliner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A person who makes or sells fashionable women's clothing, especially dresses or hats.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone who makes or mends dresses
  • noun someone who makes and sells hats

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from mode, fashion; see mode.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French modiste. Compare modist.

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Examples

  • I think that Calliope has lived in Friendship since the beginning, when she and Liddy Ember were partners in their little "modiste" shop.

    Friendship Village Zona Gale 1906

  • The 'modiste' will tell the philosopher that it is now the fashion to be severe; in a word, it is 'fesch'.

    Complete Essays Charles Dudley Warner 1864

  • The 'modiste' will tell the philosopher that it is now the fashion to be severe; in a word, it is 'fesch'.

    As We Go Charles Dudley Warner 1864

  • The 'modiste' will tell the philosopher that it is now the fashion to be severe; in a word, it is 'fesch'.

    The Complete Project Gutenberg Writings of Charles Dudley Warner Charles Dudley Warner 1864

  • “I rather stand in awe of a good milliner or modiste,” she nodded gravely.

    CHAPTER XVIII 2010

  • After much discussion with V.B., my modiste, we decided that I would order this dress in a cream sprigged muslin.

    Choosing the dress and materials maryrobinette 2010

  • Today in the mail I got a parcel from Historika, the modiste who has been making my Regency ensemble in the U.K.

    The importance of underpinnings in creating a period silhouette maryrobinette 2010

  • I found it on Etsy for $60 and my modiste is adding the detailing to make it appropriate for 1814, when Shades of Milk and Honey is set.

    Wearing a Regency dress maryrobinette 2010

  • Taking Oriana by the hand, the enthusiastic modiste drew the girl to a conveniently placed sofa and encouraged her to sit.

    The Dressmaker Posie Graeme-Evans 2010

  • A modiste hears much, and the best are discreet as priests.

    The Dressmaker Posie Graeme-Evans 2010

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