noun
governess
GUH-vuh-nuhs
Governess (noun) means a woman employed to educate children in their own home, typically living with the family. Example: “The children's governess taught them French and arithmetic every morning.”
noun
1
A woman employed to educate children in their own home, typically living with the family.
"The children's governess taught them French and arithmetic every morning."
"Boy, you are a crabby lady! Who are you? Calvin's cruel governess?"
— Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic) (1990)
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Word forms
- Plural
- governesses
- Third person singular
- governesses
- Past tense
- governessed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children's _____ taught them French and arithmetic every morning.
Etymology
From Old French governeresse, "female ruler or administrator", eventually narrowed to mean a private live-in tutor for children.
Rhymes for governess
See all rhymes for governess →Frequently asked questions
What does “governess” mean?
The word “governess” means a woman employed to educate children in their own home, typically living with the family.
How do you pronounce “governess”?
“Governess” is pronounced GUH-vuh-nuhs (/ˈɡʌvɚnəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “governess” in a sentence?
Here is “governess” used in a sentence: “The children's governess taught them French and arithmetic every morning.”
What part of speech is “governess”?
“Governess” is a noun.
Where does the word “governess” come from?
The word “governess” comes from Old French. From Old French governeresse, "female ruler or administrator", eventually narrowed to mean a private live-in tutor for children.
