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
Derived Forms
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.
THE DUENNA: To-morrow, at the early blush of dawn, We go to hear mass at St. Roch.
From Cyrano De Bergerac by Guillemard, Mary F.
THE DUENNA: After--what place for a few minutes' speech?
From Cyrano De Bergerac by Guillemard, Mary F.
THE DUENNA: Ay, I could eat myself sick on them!
From Cyrano De Bergerac by Guillemard, Mary F.
THE DUENNA: Well, but how came it about that you were thus ruined?
From Cyrano De Bergerac by Guillemard, Mary F.
THE DUENNA: If made with cream, Sir, I love them passing well.
From Cyrano De Bergerac by Guillemard, Mary F.
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.
