governess

noun

a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)

Roots

gubernaregovern- · Latin · steer, govern

Synonyms for governess

schoolmistressn duennan schoolmarmn mistressn schooldame matronn chaperonn tutoress instructressn dowagern

Synonyms & related words for governess

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of governess — including schoolmistress, duenna, schoolmarm, mistress, schooldame, matron. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to governess

Explore words related to governess — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include governessy, gouvernante, governante, nursemaid, housekeeper, nurserymaid, nanny, housemaid. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for governess

Common synonyms for governess include schoolmistress, duenna, schoolmarm, mistress, schooldame, matron, chaperon, tutoress — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does governess come from?

The word governess breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root govern-, from Latin gubernare (“steer, govern”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.