duenna
Americannoun
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(in Spain and Portugal) an older woman serving as escort or chaperon of a young lady.
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a governess.
noun
Other Word Forms
- duennaship noun
Etymology
Origin of duenna
First recorded in 1660–70; from older Spanish duenna (modern Spanish dueña ), from Latin domina, feminine of dominus “lord, master”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Georgian discipline . . . a sketch of Sheridan’s duenna, or chaperone The early life of 18th-century playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan sounds like the stuff of .
From The Guardian • Sep. 29, 2010
As a duenna of young lovers, Actress Merle Oberon, 47, has been a smashing success.
From Time Magazine Archive
Said one 128 president: "We don't let our chief scientist out of town without a duenna."
From Time Magazine Archive
At least once, however, the duenna grew forgetful, and Melville briefly became a poet.
From Time Magazine Archive
Cartaret crawled under the divan, while the duenna held the cover high to admit the light.
From The Azure Rose A Novel by Kauffman, Reginald Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
