votaress
(ˈvəʊtərɪs)
Also 6 -isse, 7 -esse, voteress. (Cf. votress1.)
[f. votar-y + -ess.]
A female votary; esp. a woman devoted to a religious life or to a special saint.
| 1589 Warner Alb. Eng. vi. xxx. (1592) 133 The wrong must then by Phœbe be excused, Who, rescuing her Votarisse, did so preuent her brother. 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God 887 Neare this place, at Caspalia, dwelt a Votaresse, who beeing sicke and past recouery, sent her garment to the shrine. 1654 R. Codrington tr. Iustine xliii. 503 She seemed not so much to be a person condemned, as a Voteress elected. 1670 Covel in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.) 114 If a poor Votaresse there..should by chance steal a taste of forbidden pleasure. 1798 W. Sotheby tr. Wieland's Oberon (1826) I. 85 Thou heavenly maid Who bad'st this knight thy votaress defend. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xiii, Rather will Ellen Douglas dwell A votaress in Maronnan's cell. 1853 Lytton My Novel ix. iii, The same [book] which had charmed the circle at Hazeldean—..charmed now the wearied and tempted votaress of the world. 1879 Dixon Windsor I. iii. 25 At length the votaress yielded to these prayers. |
| attrib. 1897 F. Thompson New Poems 138 Ruled lips Befit a votaress Muse. |