† governeress Obs.
Also 4 governowresse, 4–7 governeresse, 5–6 governouresse, 6 gouvernres.
[ad. OF. gouverneresse, fem. of gouverneur governor.]
A female governor; = the later governess, in various senses.
| c 1366 Chaucer A.B.C. 141 He hath thee maked..governeresse of hevene. c 1368 ― Compl. Pite 80 Shal Crueltee be your governeresse? c 1422 Hoccleve Jereslaus' Wife 298 A yong doghtir haue I..Of which I wolde..Thow tooke on thee to be gouerneresse, And teche hire. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas i. viii. (1544) 15 b, She was their iudge and their gouerneresse. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. viii. (1869) 6, I am gouernouresse of alle thinge, and of alle harmes j am leche. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xxvii. 96 She was maister ouer him & gouerneresse. 1553 Edw. VI Lit. Rem. (Roxb.) II. 571 If i died w{supt}out issu, and there were none heire masle, then the L. Fraunces to be gouvernres. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions i. i. 27 To Ceres (thei Sacrificed and did honour) as gouerneress of the earth. 1577 [see governess n. 2 quot. 1587]. 1652 Orders Barthol. Hosp. (1885) 21 You [the Matron] shall also as the chiefe Governeresse..have speciall regard to the good ordering. |