eldress

American  

[el-dris] / ˈɛl drɪs /

noun

1. a laywoman who is a governing officer in certain Protestant churches.

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Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of eldress

First recorded in 1630–40; elder ¹ + -ess

Example Sentences

When Wilson became aware of Mother Rebecca Cox Jackson, a Shaker eldress who formed her own community in Philadelphia in the 19th century, he was immediately intrigued about how Black and Shaker traditions intertwined — or didn’t.

From New York Times

Narrations of texts by Rebecca Cox Jackson, a 19th-century Black Shaker eldress, and words and music by Alice Coltrane are crucial to the weave.

From New York Times

Her new films, sculptures and a light installation take four fleeting slices in moments from American life as reference points: Alice Coltrane’s California ashram; Bill Ray’s iconic 1966 photos of Simon Rodia’s sculptural, found-object Watts Towers; the stunningly weird desert installations of Noah Purifoy near Joshua Tree; and a 19th-century, black Shaker community led by “eldress” Rebecca Cox Jackson.

From Seattle Times

On some occasions when a sister had stopped her whirling, she would say, 'I have a communication to make;' when the head Eldress would step to her side and receive the communication, and then make known the nature of it to the company.

From Project Gutenberg

Jesus Christ is the head Elder, and Mother Ann the head Eldress.

From Project Gutenberg