A phrase from historical newspaper personal ads, explained with real examples from the archive.
Having money or property. A lady of means or a gentleman of means was financially comfortable.
| Type | Historical language |
|---|---|
| Category | Description |
| Earliest example in the archive | August 12, 1877, New Orleans Daily Democrat |
| Most common | 1850s to the 1920s |
Money was stated openly in these ads, and on both sides. Men advertised their savings and property, and many asked for a lady of some means in return. Women sought a gentleman of means or one who could provide a comfortable home. A few ads asked for means as the main qualification, like the 1898 Klondike prospector who wanted a lady of some means to accompany him north.
A YOUNG LADY OF MEANS WILL BE pleased to correspond with a young gentleman of position and polished habits. Ultimate object, matrimony. Address E. A. S., Democrat office.
PERSONAL—A YOUNG MAN WITH a good business wishes to form the acquaintance of some lady with some means; object matrimony. Please address, in confidence, B 85, Tribune…
A gentleman, widower, age 60, holding an official position, wishes to correspond with a lady from 40 to 55, having means. Advertiser can introduce her to some of the…
YOUNG ENGLISH GENTLEMAN (30), tired of the misery of single life, wishes to end same, and with that view desires to correspond with a loving, fond, good-tempered,…
PERSONAL—A good looking, intelligent young man of about 25 years of age, and of average moral character, who is unfortunately in a crippled financial condition, wishes…
MIDDLE-AGED GENTLEMAN, WHO HAS a fine home in the country, would like to make the acquaintance of a lady having some means; object, matrimouy. Address J. S., Sorrento,…
GENTLEMAN, age 30, has rich claim Klondike, wishes lady of some means to accompany him. Box 1479, Call office.
A young and handsome widow of education and refinement, possessed of a small fortune, and a stranger in the city, wishes to correspond with a gentleman of some means. No…
MIDDLE-AGED widow, with some means, is desirous of meeting gentleman, with view to matrimony. Address S 8, Bee.
GENTLEMAN of middle age, good appearance, some means, wishes correspondence with lady matrimonially inclined; give full description. Address X-123. News.
CORRESPONDENCE with refined, healthy, educated American gentleman out of Denver, 45 to 55 years, not stout or undersized, with reasonable means; X-82, News.
WANTED—A sober, industrious gentleman age 33, would like to meet lady with ranch or some means with view to matrimony. Address "Matrimony," care Republican.
A WIDOW LADY, STRANGER IN city, well educated, some means, would like to meet a gentleman not over 45; object matrimony; no triflers need answer. Address E-50, Tribune.
VERY LONELY AND WOULD MEET cultured woman or widow of means matrimonially inclined. G-103, News-Times.
BUSINESS MAN 35, WORTH $35,000, lonely, in Denver for short time, would meet refined maid or widow with means, matrimonially inclined; references exchanged. J-101,…
WIDOW, 35 years; neat housekeeper; good cook; lonely; nice looking; would like correspond with man with some means. Reply T-82, Union.
AMERICAN GENTLEMAN, 40, with few thousand dollars, would like to correspond with a good kind lady of means. If interested, write Box 353, Manchester, N. H.
GENTLEMAN of refinement, age 35, wishes to meet lady with means, between 30 and 40 years of age. Object matrimony. C. F. Brooks, Gen. Del., Phoenix, Ariz. 1t
ELDERLY LADY with property, wishes acquaintance of gentleman of suitable age and good habits, resources. Box 100T Republican.
WELL educated and refined widow musically inclined and alone, desires the companionship of refined gentleman of means; object matrimony. All replies will be treated in a…
I WANT the acquaintance of a young lady for a young gentleman friend of mine. She should be about 22—23 years of age, rather pretty, of medium height, well educated (may…
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How this fits into 170 years of personal ad shorthand: From Object Matrimony to LTR: How Personal Ads Learned to Talk in Code.
All dictionary entries · The Personals Archive · How to write a personal ad
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