Mzzz.

n.  Ms, used to “avoid the Ms./Mrs. quandry” (Susan Isaacs, Long Time No See); see also Mzzzz, Mzzzzz, Mzzzzzz.

<He’d wanted to have a go at Mzzz Middleton from their first interview, but he was too careful for that.  —James Patterson, Pop Goes the Weasel.> <She shook her head.  “Not Mzzz.  I’m Dr. Taylor.  —Torey Hayden, Just Another Kid.>

Mzzzz.

n.  Ms, presumably to stress a distinction from Miss; see also Mzzz, Mzzzzz, Mzzzzzz.

<Call me Celeste.  I loathe Mzzzz.  —Arthur Laurents, My Good Name.> <“It’s easy for you to say that, isn’t it, Mzzzz. Hot Shot City Lawyer.  —Nick Hornby, High Fidelity.> <Mzzzz. Arden says our kids have no right to be here.  —Judy Maclean, Rosemary and Juliet.>

Mzzzzz.

n.  a possible pronunciation of Ms, as discussed in Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman; a hissing or snarling pronunciation of Ms; see also Mzzz, Mzzzz, Mzzzzzz.

<“Now, Mzzzzz...” he drew the word out until it was repulsive, snakelike, “Mzzzzz. Arden suggests that we of the Divido Bible Church have no standing to speak here, because many of our children do not attend the public schools.  —Judy Maclean, Rosemary and Juliet.> <The way I uttered Mzzzzz, it was a snarl.  —Joyce Carol Oates, Big Mouth & Ugly Girl.>

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