governess
English · Thesaurus
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governess
- /ˈɡʌvɚnəs/ US
- /ˈɡʌvənəs/ UK
- /ˌɡʌvəˈnɛs/ UK
Where it comes from
From Middle English governesse, a contracted form of governeresse, from Old French governeresse (“female ruler or administrator”). In later senses, equivalent to govern(or) + -ess.
noun governesses
-
A woman paid to educate children in their own home.
Miss Jenny was obliged to obey the commands of her governess; though she was so good natured that she did it in the mildest terms; and endeavoured all she could to lessen, rather than increase, Mrs. Teachum’s anger.
Similar: governoress
-
A female governor.
“The Gates Ajar” seems to be the favorite song and inspiration of Ma Ferguson in her four years as governor. The lady governess pardoned criminals as soon as they were convicted and was so chronic in her actions that the courts had just about refused to function in convicting anyone.
Similar: governoress, gubernatrix
-
The wife of a governor.
The Lady Governeſs of the Town drew near to me; […]
Similar: governoress
verb governesses · governessing · governessed
- To work as governess; to educate children in their own home.
Translations
Every language
noun woman paid to educate children in their own home
| Español | institutriz |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 姥 mǔ |
| Kiswahili | mlezi |
| Português | governanta |
| Français | gouvernante |
| Deutsch | Hauslehrerin, Erzieherin, Gouvernante |
| Italiano | governante, istitutrice |
| Română | guvernantă |
| Русский | гуверна́нтка guvernántka, воспита́тельница vospitátelʹnica |
noun female governor
| Português | governatriz |
|---|---|
| Français | gouverneuse |
Talk about this word "governess." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/governess. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. governess. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/governess "governess." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/governess.Cite this
@misc{governess_2026,
title = {governess},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/governess},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
