coadjutrix
(kəʊəˈdʒ(j)uːtrɪks)
[Latin fem. of coadjūtor, used in med. or mod.L.: see -trix.]
A female coadjutor or helper.
| 1646 Earl of Monmouth tr. Biondi's Civ. Warres Eng. vi.–ix. 115 Elizabeth the chiefe agent, and her mother..her co-adjutrix. 1670 Cotton Espernon ii. vi. 260 Her, who.. had with the late King been a Coadjutrix in raising it [the kingdom] to that degree of height and reputation. a 1797 H. Walpole Mem. Geo. II (1847) I. xi. 335 The coadjutrix soon replaced her instructress. 1853 Thackeray Eng. Hum. 115 The novels of Swift's coadjutrix, Mrs. Manley. |
b. Eccl. A woman appointed as assistant and successor to an abbess.
| 1725 tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. I. iii. x. 153 [The Abbess's] Resignation was not received but her Sister was made Co⁓adjutrix to her. 1813 Mary A. Schimmelpenninck tr. Lancelot's Tour Alet 195 This lady took her as coadjutrix in the direction of the monastery of Port Royal. |
Hence coadjutrixship.
| 1837 Foreign Q. Rev. XIX. 103 Aurora of Königsmark failed of the coadjutrixship and consequent succession. |