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
The head of the portress disappeared from the young man's sight with the profundity and compass of the reverence with which she received the image of the sovereign of all true Catholic hearts.
From The Firebrand by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
"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 Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
“But what shall I say to the portress, who has never seen me go out, and will ask me where I am going?”
From The Betrothed From the Italian of Alessandro Manzoni by Manzoni, Alessandro
The portress closed the window quickly, while the four stood at the entrance.
From Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine by Auerbach, Berthold
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.
