Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for governess

governess

[ guhv-er-nis ]

noun

  1. a woman who is employed to take charge of a child's upbringing, education, etc.
  2. Archaic. a woman who is a ruler or governor.


governess

/ ˈɡʌvənɪs /

noun

  1. a woman teacher employed in a private household to teach and train the children


Discover More

Gender Note

See -ess.

Discover More

Other Words From

  • gover·ness·y adjective
  • sub·govern·ess noun
  • under·govern·ess noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of governess1

1400–50; late Middle English governeress < Old French gouverneresse, feminine of gouverneur governor; -ess

Discover More

Example Sentences

Governess: A young woman who was typically employed by wealthy families to care for and privately educate their children.

Victoria Winters: An orphan who is engaged by the Collins family as a governess for young David Collins.

The girl would become Victoria Winters, an orphan hired by the Collins Family as a governess for the troubled young heir.

A victim of the waning governess trade, Miss Ellington must take a position at the crumbling Scroop Hall.

Later she got a job as governess to the illegitimate children that Louis XIV had fathered with another mistress.

The Princess still kept her eyes fixed on Louis, while, in a suppressed and unsteady voice, she answered her governess.

The governess is Swiss and for one week she talks nothing but French and for another nothing but German.

The child who has got languages from its governess, therefore, marks time—that is to say, wastes time in these subjects at school.

A real improvement in the boys character dated from the arrival of a new governess, Nastasia Petrov.

She had a governess and she had a maid, but I must say she didn't seem an atom set up, and was just as nice when she met us girls.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

firkin

[fur-kin ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


governancegovernment