portress
Americannoun
noun
Gender
See -ess.
Etymology
Origin of portress
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at porter 2, -ess
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.
A portress stopped me by the cloakroom at the main entrance.
From Time Magazine Archive
"These are the windows of the rooms occupied by my lady the Queen-Regent," whispered the portress, Rebeca, pointing upwards; "but promise me to commit no murder or do any hurt to the little maid."
From The Firebrand by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
"The Mother Superior waits!" gasped the portress, opening the great door suddenly, and the young man found himself forthwith within the Convent of the Holy Innocents.
From The Firebrand by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
Why, I do not know," replied the portress, still sturdily setting her face against their passage; "there was another person waiting on the outside to show you the way, till just a minute ago.
From Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3) or, The States of Blois by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James
It was not the old portress who had thrown back the open door.
From Consequences by E. M. Delafield
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.
