chaperone

noun

/ˈʃæpərəʊn/

(also chaperon)

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(in the past) an older woman who, on social occasions, took care of a young woman who was not marriedTopics Historyc2
a person who takes care of children in public, especially when they are working, for example as actors
(North American English) a person, such as a parent or a teacher, who goes with a group of young people on a trip or to a dance to encourage good behaviour

Word Originlate Middle English (denoting a hood or cap, regarded as giving protection): from French, feminine of chaperon ‘hood’, diminutive of chape, from late Latin cappa ‘cap’. The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

chaperone

verb

/ˈʃæpərəʊn/

(also chaperon)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they chaperone	/ˈʃæpərəʊn/ /ˈʃæpərəʊn/
he / she / it chaperones	/ˈʃæpərəʊnz/ /ˈʃæpərəʊnz/
past simple chaperoned	/ˈʃæpərəʊnd/ /ˈʃæpərəʊnd/
past participle chaperoned	/ˈʃæpərəʊnd/ /ˈʃæpərəʊnd/
-ing form chaperoning	/ˈʃæpərəʊnɪŋ/ /ˈʃæpərəʊnɪŋ/

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chaperone somebody to act as a chaperone for somebody, especially a woman
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting a hood or cap, regarded as giving protection): from French, feminine of chaperon ‘hood’, diminutive of chape, from late Latin cappa ‘cap’. The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.