knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress
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The game saw Mario once again saving a damsel (Princess Peach, then called Toadstool) from his nemesis, Bowser (née King Koopa), which would remain his motivation for countless sequels for decades.—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026 On the top floor of a Spanish immersion elementary school in St. Paul, Minn., a classroom of fifth graders is immersed in a world of damsels in distress and knights slaying giants.—Meg Anderson, NPR, 22 Mar. 2026 Though set in Ghost Town with period garb, there are modern flourishes, such as tongue-in-cheek nods to the theme park’s attractions and a damsel in distress who ultimately proves to be anything but.—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 After two seasons of Peter chasing around Rose Larkin, Isabel proves to be more than a distressed damsel, solidifying journalism’s crucial place in holding power accountable and aiding governmental investigations at large.—Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damsel
Word History
Etymology
Middle English damesel, from Anglo-French dameisele, from Vulgar Latin *domnicella young noblewoman, diminutive of Latin domina lady