governesshoodn.
/ˈɡʌvn̩ᵻshʊd/, /ˈɡʌvn̩ɛshʊd/, U.S. /ˈɡəvərnəsˌ(h)ʊd/ The fact or state of being a governess (governess n. 2c).
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > teacher > [noun] > professional teacher > governess > in position of
government1653
governess-ship1818
governesshood1840
governessdom1858
1840 C. G. F. Gore Preferment I. ix. 159 The defunct Mrs. Spry had, during her ten years of governesshood in the family of the Duke of Pelham, been occasionally permitted to make tea for lords and ladies.
1867 E. Yates Forlorn Hope II. iii. 56 She was always on the look-out for that knight who was to come and deliver her from the bonds of governesshood.
1948 A. Acland Caroline Norton 28 They could not go out to work, except in the genteel living death of governesshood or paid companionship.
1997 Independent (Nexis) 5 Oct. 31 The letters from Charlotte [Brontë] about the condition of governesshood mark out her gift for describing the state of not-belonging.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1840