governessy, a.
[f. governess + -y.]
Having the characteristics of a governess.
| 1872 Spectator 30 Mar. 406/1 Mary Garth has none of her mother's didactic precision, none of her governessy qualities—if one may be permitted to coin a word. 1879 C. M. Yonge Magnum Bonum II. xxv. 498 [She] has broken out of all her primmy governessy crust. 1893 Westm. Gaz. 6 Apr. 3/1 Miss C. is sometimes a little prim and *governessy. 1963 Times 24 May 15/4 It is an ungrateful task, but her governessy approach does not make the best of it. |