Madonna

Madonna

Madonna From an Italian title of the Virgin Mary (literally ‘my lady’), applied to countless Renaissance paintings of a beautiful young woman (with and without an infant), representing the mother of Christ. Its use as a given name is a fairly recent phenomenon, arising among Americans of Italian descent. Since the 1980s, the name has been particularly associated with the American pop star Madonna Ciccone (b. 1958).

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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Madonna." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Madonna." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Madonna.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Madonna." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Madonna.html

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Madonna

Madonna Representation in painting or sculpture of the Virgin Mary, usually with the infant Jesus. The early Christians painted the Madonna in their catacombs, and she was a feature of many outstanding Byzantine icons. The advent of the Renaissance brought less stylized representations, and almost every great painter and sculptor of the period produced portraits of the Madonna.

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"Madonna." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Madonna." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Madonna1.html

"Madonna." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Madonna1.html

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Madonna

Ma·don·na1 / məˈdänə/ • n. (the Madonna) the Virgin Mary. ∎  a picture, statue, or medallion of the Madonna, typically depicted seated and holding the infant Jesus. ∎  (usu. madonna) an idealized virtuous and beautiful woman.

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"Madonna." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Madonna." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-madonna.html

"Madonna." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-madonna.html

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madonna

madonna †my lady, madam XVI; the Virgin Mary, picture or statue of her XVII. — It. madonna, i.e. ma, old unstr. form of mia my (:- L. mea), donna lady (:- L. domina).

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T. F. HOAD. "madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-madonna.html

T. F. HOAD. "madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-madonna.html

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Madonna

Madonna (Ital., ‘my lady’). A Christian designation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, common especially in artistic representations.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Madonna.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Madonna.html

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Madonna

Madonna (Ital., ‘My Lady’). A designation of the BVM, used especially with reference to statues and pictures of her.

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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Madonna.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Madonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Madonna.html

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Madonna

Madonna the Virgin Mary, a name (from Italian, meaning ‘my lady’) recorded in English from the mid 17th century.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Madonna." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Madonna." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Madonna.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Madonna." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Madonna.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Madonna ' in pieces' at leaving Mercy; Lourdes upset after decorating nursery...
Newspaper article from: The Mail on Sunday (London, England); 4/5/2009
Madonna laid bare: JFK junior liked to cover her legs in whipped cream and...
Newspaper article from: The People (London, England); 5/27/2001
Madonna: Laid Bare - Desperately seeking attention.. She-Devil aged 10 loved...
Newspaper article from: The People (London, England); 5/20/2001

Facts and information from other sites

Madonna images
Madonna performing, 2006. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)