tutelaryadj.n.
/ˈtjuːtɪləri/ A. adj.
1. Of supernatural powers: Having the position of protector, guardian, or patron; esp. protecting or watching over a particular person, place, or thing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [adjective] > protecting as a patron or guardian > as a divinity, angel, or saint
tutelar1600
patronal1606
tutelary1611
1611 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 529 A Spanish governor, who adoreth them [Jesuits] as his tutelary gods.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §33 I could easily beleeve, that..particular persons have their Tutelary and Guardian Angels. View more context for this quotation
1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero I. v. 400 That tutelary Minerva.
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature I. xxiii. 316 Fountains and springs..watched over and guarded by tutelary divinities.
1806 R. Fellowes tr. J. Milton Second Def. in C. Symmons Prose Wks. John Milton VI. 437 The patron and tutelary genius of liberty.
1860 J. L. Motley Hist. Netherlands (1868) I. vi. 314 A little republic..suddenly bereft of its tutelary saint.
1908 C. Bigg Origins Christianity (1909) i. 14 The Lares,..the little tutelary gods, who watched over the prosperity of the home.
2. transferred. Of or pertaining to protection or a protector or guardian; protective.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [adjective] > relating to guardian or guardianship
tutelary1651
custodial1678
tutorial1766
guardianly1872
non-custodial1947
1651 W. G. tr. J. Cowell Inst. Lawes Eng. 203 Obligations..arise from implyed Contracts many wayes: As for transacting businesse Tutelary.
1692 tr. C. de Saint-Évremond Misc. Ess. 2 They acknowledged a particular Care and Protection from its Tutelary Vertue.
1721 M. Prior Predestination 306 My Voice and heart I lift To ask th' Almighty's Tutelary Care.
1853 G. Grote Hist. Greece XI. ii. lxxxv. 198 The conduct of Timoleon and Æschylus..was in the highest degree tutelary to Corinth.
1875 W. E. Gladstone in Contemp. Rev. June 5 Great acts of tutelary friendship.
B. n.
= tutelar n.In quot. 1866 used as almost = tutor; cf. tutelage n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [noun] > one who looks after > protector or patron > divinity, angel, or saint
avowe1297
angel1340
avowrya1387
patrona1387
avourec1450
familiar angelc1450
advocator1483
vower1488
tutelar1603
titular1621
guardian angela1631
tutelary1652
guardian1667
patron saint1703
warden-angel1845
advowee1863
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 177 The tutilaries of Kingdoms, Nations, [&c.].
1654 Z. Coke Art of Logick Ep. Ded. sig. a1 It is Ianitrix Scientiarum; the Tutelary and Guardian of all.
a1706 J. Evelyn Hist. Relig. (1850) II. xi. 279 They have..tutelaries for every trade.
1866 A. De Morgan in Athenæum 27 Oct. 535/1 My spiritual tutelary..referred the difficulty to the Almighty.
1908 S. A. Cook Relig. Anc. Palestine vi. 67 The status of a local tutelary was affected when commercial intercourse widened the horizon of both the traveller and the native.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.n.1611