| 释义 |
† ˈgovernante Obs.
Also 7–8 governant.
[Anglicized form of gouvernante.]
1. A female governor or ruler.
1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 132 An Old Gentlewoman..the Governant of the Womens Quarters. 1763–5Smollett Hist. Eng. xxii. (1827) III. 282 The administration of the government devolved upon the princess, as governante during her son's minority.
2. A mistress of a household; a housekeeper.
1668L'Estrange Vis. Quevedo (ed. 3) 46, I saw Envy there drest up in a Widow's Vail, and the very Picture of the Governant of one of your Noblemen's Houses. 1700Congreve Way of World v. i, This was your Merchandize you dealt in, when I..made you Governante of my whole Family! 1793E. Inchbald Midn. Hour i. i, I am..the general governante of the whole house. 1816Scott Old Mort. vi, ‘Mercifu' powers!’ exclaimed the governante.
3. A woman who has charge of a young person; a governess, a female teacher; a chaperon, duenna.
1639T. Brugis tr. Camus' Mor. Relat. 232 What diligence soever widowed fathers use to finde out good governants, they never find any whose eyes be so vigilant over their daughters as their mothers. 1674–81in Blount Glossogr. 1685Crowne Sir C. Nice iv. Dram. Wks. 1874 III. 310 Other nations, by their spies and governantes, are at great toil and charges to be cuckolds. 1688in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 114 The Lady Marquis of Powis, governante to the Prince. 1709Steele Tatler No. 9 ⁋3 The young Lady saw her good Governante on her Knees. 1711E. Ward Quix. I. 373 To Steal a Squint at One another when Jealous Governant sits by. 1756Cowper in Connoisseur No. 119 ⁋4 The governantes at the boarding-school teach Miss to be a good girl. 1796J. Morse Amer. Geog. II. 265 A lady of a Polish grandee,..attended by..an old gentlewoman for her governante. 1823Scott Peveril v, Mistress Ellesmere..laid her orders upon Deborah, the governante, immediately to carry the children to their airing in the park. |