protector

[ pruh-tek-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that protects; defender; guardian.
2. English History.
   1. a person in charge of the kingdom during the sovereign's minority, incapacity, or absence.
   2. (initial capital letter) Also called Lord Protector. the title of the head of the government during the period of the Protectorate, held by Oliver Cromwell (1653–58) and by Richard Cromwell, his son (1658–59).

Protector

¹

/ prəˈtɛktə /

noun

1. short for Lord Protector, the title borne by Oliver Cromwell (1653–58) and by Richard Cromwell (1658–59) as heads of state during the period known as the Protectorate

protector

²

/ prəˈtɛktə /

noun

1. a person or thing that protects
2. history a person who exercised royal authority during the minority, absence, or incapacity of the monarch

Derived Forms

• proˈtectoral, adjective
• proˈtectress, noun:feminine

Other Words From

• pro·tector·al adjective
• pro·tector·less adjective
• pro·tector·ship noun
• subpro·tector noun
• subpro·tector·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of protector¹

1325–75; < Late Latin ( protect, -tor ); replacing Middle English protectour < Middle French

Example Sentences

Too many people reverted to a childlike state, and they wanted a daddy-protector.

From The Daily Beast

“I recognized Dave Schultz as my protector,”' du Pont said in the March interview.

From The Daily Beast

The President as the ultimate sugar daddy, the ultimate protector with whom you can be as “behind a stone wall.”

From The Daily Beast

I saw a faint, sweet glimmer of the ferocious protector he once was.

From The Daily Beast

Adding a rim protector aside from the 36-year-old Birdman would certainly be nice too.

From The Daily Beast

In the eyes of the bystanders, Haggard was evidently looked upon as the protector of beauty in distress.

From Project Gutenberg

Deception does not suit the part of a protector, and, when one can do anything without question, where is the use of deception?

From Project Gutenberg

At Cambridge we were within easy reach of the scenes of the Protector's early life.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a considerably larger town, but none of the buildings now standing has any connection with the life of the Protector.

From Project Gutenberg

The friend and protector of the young Desplein, the future famous surgeon.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• benefactor
• bulwark
• defender
• partisan
• patron
• savior