governoresses

Noun

governoress (plural governoresses)

1. (nonstandard) A woman employed to educate children in private households.
   • How are the following nouns improperly formed, and what should they be? viz.—Lifes, knifes, dwarves, mischieves—boxs, churchs, dishs, fishs—enemys, flys, skys, spys—louses, mouses, oxes, pennys—arcanums, datums, erratums, phænomenons—bacheloress, benefactoress, governoress—boys books, girls dolls...[1826, Peter Smith, An Analytical System of English Grammar; […], Edinburgh: […] Oliver & Boyd, […]; and Geo[rge] B[yrom] Whittaker, London, page 17

   Synonyms:

   governess

2. (dated) A female governor.
   • I was introduced by Mrs. Onward, the Governoress, to Mrs. Sapient, the Speakeress of the House.1869 February 25, Redpath [pseudonym], “Redpath Visits the State Capital. a. d. 1900.”, in Iron County Register, volume II, number 29, Ironton, Mo., page [3], column 2

   Synonyms:

   governess, gubernatrix

3. (dated) The wife of a governor.
   • Colonel Braddyll, soon after his marriage, was chosen governor of ⸺, in India, and Mrs. Braddyll, as governoress, or governor’s lady, was in the height of her glory.1820, chapter V, in De Clifford; or, Passion more Powerful than Reason. […], volume I, London: […] [T]he Minerva Press for A[nthony] K[ing] Newman and Co. […], →OCLC, pages 164–165

   Synonyms:

   governess