governess

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gov·er·ness

(gŭv′ər-nĭs)

A woman employed to educate and train the children of a private household.

[Middle English governesse, short for governouresse, from Old French governeresse, feminine of governeor, governor, from Latin gubernātor; see gubernatorial.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

governess

(ˈɡʌvənɪs)

(Education) a woman teacher employed in a private household to teach and train the children

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

gov•ern•ess

(ˈgʌv ər nɪs)

n.

1. a woman employed in a private household to take charge of a child's upbringing and education.

2. Archaic. a woman who is a ruler or governor.

[1400–50; late Middle English < Old French]

gov′er•ness•y, adj.

usage: See -ess.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun 1. [画像:governess - a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)]governess - a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)

instructor, teacher - a person whose occupation is teaching

governess

noun tutor, teacher He studied under the strict tutelage of his English governess.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

istitutrice

гувернантка

guvernanta

governess

[ˈgʌvənɪs] N → institutriz f, gobernanta f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

governess

[ˈgʌvə^rnəs] n → gouvernante f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

governess

n → Gouvernante f, → Hauslehrerin f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

governess

[ˈgʌv/ənɪs] n → governante f, istitutrice f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

Do you look upon governesses as creatures above suspicion or necessarily of moral perfection?

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I have known several among the higher ranks who treated their governesses quite as one of the family; though some, I allow, are as insolent and exacting as any one else can be: for there are bad and good in all classes.'

The unknown lady, in her reply, made no objection to this, and stated that, as to my acquirements, she had no doubt I should be able to give satisfaction; but in the engagement of governesses she considered those things as but subordinate points; as being situated in the neighbourhood of O , she could get masters to supply any deficiencies in that respect: but, in her opinion, next to unimpeachable morality, a mild and cheerful temper and obliging disposition were the most essential requisities.

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Are there no other women who serve as governesses, and who are the equals of the persons whom they serve?

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Lady Battledown makes all her governesses take the same name; she gives œ5 more a year for the purpose.

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The Kashana residents informed the CM that they had to clean the building themselves as there was neither any sweeper nor a gardener while teachers and governesses were also unavailable to them.

Shelter girls complain about pathetic conditions to CM

Moreover, there are no gardeners, teachers or even governesses to look after the children.

Sorry state of affairs: Punjab CM stumbles upon orphaned orphanage

Heir to a dukedom, ladies' man and all-around rascal Chase Reynaud has had responsibility thrust upon him--the guardianship of two orphaned girls who enjoy chasing away governesses. He's desperate for another woman to fill the position, and when Alexandra Mount-batten shows up on his doorstep, she soon finds herself a member of the duke's household.

A Hail Mary pass

The charitable efforts of the Governesses Benevolent Institution (GBI), and the literary criticism of Lady Elizabeth Eastlake (1848) drew attention to the fact that the governess experienced more difficulty than most in negotiating a competitive social hierarchy.

Paul Pennyfeather and the Victorian Governess: The Rejection of Nineteenth-Century Idealism in Decline and Fall

The storyteller was born on July 28, 1866 into a wealthy family and was educated at home in Kensington, London, by various governesses.

Enchanting tale that's timeless; NOSTALGIA

While some women can have successful careers as governesses, Austen appears to be saying (through her different characterizations of Miss Fairfax and Miss Taylor) that Jane Fairfax does not have the makings a very good governess (West 34).

"The world is not theirs": the plight of Jane Fairfax in Emma

When Miss Emmie was in Russia; English governesses before, during and after the October Revolution.

When Miss Emmie was in Russia; English governesses before, during and after the October Revolution. (reprint, 1977)