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patroness

[pey-truh-nis]
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noun
  1. a woman who protects, supports, or sponsors someone or something.
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Origin of patroness

1375–1425; late Middle English patronesse female patron saint < Old French
Related formssub·pa·tron·ess, noun

Usage note

See -ess.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for patroness

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The patroness of the ex-convict received this assurance indignantly.

    The Secret Agent

    Joseph Conrad

  • "You're wise not to lie I to me," her patroness remarked with just a suspicion of satisfaction.

    Nobody

    Louis Joseph Vance

  • Thence he went to Veere, but found no opportunity to talk to his patroness.

  • But Pamela was immovable, and, accordingly, had never seen her patroness since.

    Theo

    Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett

  • Tofte tells his patroness that most of his ‘toys’ ‘were conceived in Italy.’

British Dictionary definitions for patroness

patroness

noun
  1. a woman who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor
  2. See patron saint
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Derived Formspatronal (pəˈtrəʊnəl), adjectivepatronly, adjective

Word Origin

see patron
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

Word Origin and History for patroness

n.

early 15c., from Medieval Latin patronissa, fem. of patronus "protector, defender" (see patron).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper