1570s, in Spanish use, "a lady;" in address, "madam;" from Spanish señora "a lady; madam," fem. of señor (see senor). The Portuguese equivalent is senhora.
Entries linking to senora
senor
1620s, in Spanish use, "a gentleman;" in address, "sir;" from Spanish señor "a gentleman; sir," from Medieval Latin senior "a lord," a special use of Latin senior "elder" (source also of Portuguese senhor), accusative of senior "older" (from PIE root *sen- "old").
*sen-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "old."
It forms all or part of: monseigneur; seignior; senate; senescent; seneschal; senicide; senile; senility; senior; seniority; senor; senora; senorita; shanachie; Shannon; signor; sir; sire; surly.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sanah "old;" Avestan hana- "old," Old Persian hanata- "old age, lapse of time;" Armenian hin "old;" Greek enos "old, of last year;" Latin senilis "of old age," senex "old, old man;" Lithuanian senas "old," senis "an old man;" Gothic sineigs "old" (used only of persons), sinistra "elder, senior;" Old Norse sina "dry standing grass from the previous year;" Old Irish sen, Old Welsh hen "old."
senorita n.
in a Spanish context, "a young Spanish lady;" as a title, "Miss;" 1823, from Spanish señorita, Spanish title corresponding to English "Miss," diminutive of señora (see senora). The Portuguese equivalent is senhorita.