governess
A woman paid to educate children in their own homeA woman paid to educate children in their own home.
» I had a Canadian governess.
Meaning
3 sensesA woman paid to educate children in their own home.
Hauslehrerin, Erzieherin, Gouvernante
гуверна́нткаguvernántka, воспита́тельницаvospitátelʹnica
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
(dated)A female governor.
(dated)The wife of a governor.
Examples
3 sentencesI had a Canadian governess.
Mary used to work as a governess for a wealthy family.
Old rich families used to employ a governess to look after their children.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English governesse, a contracted form of governeresse, from Old French governeFrom Middle English governesse, a contracted form of governeresse, from Old French governeresse (“female ruler or administrator”). In later senses, equivalent to govern(or) + -ess.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: governesses| Singular | governess |
|---|---|
| Plural | governesses |
regular