governess

From a contracted form of Middle English governeresse, from Old French governeresse (“female ruler or administrator”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡʌvɚnəs/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡʌvənəs/, /ˈɡʌvnəs/

• Audio (US)

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governess (plural governesses, masculine governor)

1. A woman paid to educate children in their own home.
   • 1917, Constance Garnett, An Upheaval, translation of original by Anton Chekhov:

     [Mashenka Pavletsky] returning from a walk to the house of the Kushkins, with whom she was living as a governess, found the household in a terrible turmoil.

2. (rare) A female governor.

• governess-cart
• governessless
• governesslike
• governesshood
• governessship
• governessy

governess (third-person singular simple present governesses, present participle governessing, simple past and past participle governessed)

1. To work as governess; to educate children in their own home.