v. [f. LADY sb. + -FY.] trans. To make a lady of; to give the title of ‘Lady’ to. Hence Ladyfied ppl. a. (colloq.), having the airs of a fine lady.
1602. Dekker, Satiromastix, Wks. 1873, I. 221. Ile enter into bond to be dub’d by what day thou wilt, when the next action is layde upon me thou shalt be Ladified.
1622. Rowlands, Good Newes & Bad, 7. She … would be Madam’d, Worship’d, Ladifide.
1632. Massinger, City Madam, IV. iv. He made a knight, And your sweet mistress-ship ladyfied.
1682. Mrs. Behn, City-Heiress, 61. How, Mrs. Dy Ladyfi’d! This is an excellent way of disposing an old cast-off Mistriss.
1881. Oxfordsh. Gloss., Ladyfied, lady-like.
[1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, III. xxxiii. 229. Azubah had certainly grown wonderfully fine ladyfied in the last year or two.]
1885. T. Mozley, Remin. Towns, etc. II. 222. They could hardly be restrained from ladifying every plain Mrs. who came near them.
