duenna

[ doo-en-uh, dyoo- ]

/ duˈɛn ə, dyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR duenna ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(in Spain and Portugal) an older woman serving as escort or chaperon of a young lady.

a governess.

Nearby words

duecento, duel, duelist, duello, duende, duenna, duero, dues, dues-paying, duet, duetting

Origin of duenna

1660–70; < Spanish duenna (now dueña) < Latin domina, feminine of dominus master

Related formsdu·en·na·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for duenna

He told me that O'Brien had the duenna called to his room that morning.
Romance|Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
The duenna went out muttering a Gloria Patri, which was exactly finished by the time she got at the other side of the door.
Gomez Arias|Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
The duenna had scuttled forward on her knees and, amid a series of cries, was pressing the hem of the kimono to her lips.
The Azure Rose|Reginald Wright Kauffman
Here I am, till my duenna finishes her business and fetches me.
I Say No|Wilkie Collins

The duenna was taken by surprise, and Alcala read assent in her look of confusion.
The Spanish Cavalier|Charlotte Maria Tucker

British Dictionary definitions for duenna

duenna

/ (djuːˈɛnə) /

noun

(in Spain and Portugal, etc) an elderly woman retained by a family to act as governess and chaperon to young girls

Word Origin for duenna

C17: from Spanish dueña, from Latin domina lady, feminine of dominus master

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

duenna

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of duenna

Examples from the Web for duenna

British Dictionary definitions for duenna

duenna

noun

Word Origin for duenna