portress

[ pawr-tris, pohr- ]

/ ˈpɔr trɪs, ˈpoʊr- /

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noun

a woman who has charge of a door or gate; a female doorkeeper.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Also porteress.

Origin of portress

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at porter², -ess

usage note for portress

See -ess.

Words nearby portress

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, portraiture, portray, portrayal, portrayed, portress, Port Royal, port running, Port Said, Port-Salut, portside

How to use portress in a sentence

From the portress Cibot to the Marquise d'Espard, not one of his women has an evil thought that he does not fathom.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
The way thither was down a well; and she was led by the portress, an old woman, into the royal palace.
The Science of Fairy Tales|Edwin Sidney Hartland
They entered, and the portress hastily shut behind them the wicket, and made fast the massive fastenings by which it was secured.
The Abbot|Sir Walter Scott
I have already mentioned the animosity that was entertained against me by the infernal portress of this solitary mansion.
Caleb Williams|William Godwin

Well, then I have got to stay—I am only going to have a word with the Portress.
Plays--First Series|August Strindberg

British Dictionary definitions for portress

portress

/ (ˈpɔːtrɪs) /

noun

a female porter, esp a doorkeeper

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