governeress

English

Etymology

From Middle English governeresse, from Old French governeresse; equivalent to governer +‎ -ess.

Noun

governeress (plural governeresses)

1. Obsolete spelling of governoress.
   1. A governess (woman employed to educate children).
      • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “Edward the second”, in The Laste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume II, London: […] for Iohn Hunne, →OCLC, page 875, column 1:

        Hee wrote likewiſe to yͤ L. Iohn the infante, yͤ L. of Biſkey, and to yͤ Lady Mary of Biſkey, gouernereſſe of yͤ K. of Caſtile and Leon, and to Iames K. of Aragon, requeſting them to aid him with men of warre, as well horſemẽ as footemen againſt his aduerſarie yͤ Frẽch K. that moſt vniuſtly went about to depriue him of his inheritãce.

   2. A woman who rules or governs.
      • 1553, Edward VI, “King Edward’s devise, entirely autograph. (MS. Petyt 47, f. 317.) My deuise for the succession.”, in John Gough Nichols, editor, The Chronicle of Queen Jane, and of Two Years of Queen Mary, and Especially of the Rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyat, London: […] [T]he Camden Society, published 1850, page 89:

        5. If i died w^tout issu, and ther were none heire masle, then the L Fraunces to be (gouuernres) regẽt. For lakke of her, the her eldest daughters, and for lakke of them the L Marget to be gouuernres after as is aforsaid, til sume heire masle be borne, and then the mother of that child to be gouuernres. 6. And if during the rule of the gouuernres ther die 4 of the counsel, then shal she by her letters cal an assẽble of the counsel w^tin on month folowing and chose 4 more, wherin she shal haue thre uoices.

      • 1555, William Watreman, The Fardle of Facions Conteining the Aunciente Maners, Customes, and Lawes, of the Peoples Enhabiting the Two Partes of the Earth, Called Affrike and Asie, London: […] Ihon Kingstone, and Henry Sutton:

        To Iupiter alſo thei Sacrificed, & did honour as to y^e principall of life. To Vulcan for fire, to Pallas, as Lady of the ſkie, to Ceres as gouernereſſe of the arth, and to ſondry other for other ſondry conſiderations.

      • 1652, Orders and Ordinances, for the Better Government of the Hospitall of Bartholomew the Lesse. […], London: […] James Flesher, […], page 21:

        Alſo ye ſhall receive the flax provided by the Governours of this houſe, and the ſame being ſpun by the Siſters, ye ſhall commit to the ſaid Governours, that they may both put order for the weighing of the ſame to the Weaver, and for the meaſuring of it at the returning thereof. You ſhall alſo as the chiefe Governereſſe, and worthy Matron of this houſe, have ſpeciall regard to the good ordering and keeping of all the Sheets, Coverlets, Blankets, Beds, and other implements committed to your charge, that now do or hereafter ſhall appertain unto the poor.