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protégé

[proh-tuh-zhey, proh-tuh-zhey]
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noun
  1. a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.
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Origin of protégé

1780–90; < French, noun use of past participle of protéger to protect < Latin prōtegere. See protect
Can be confusedprodigy protégé
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for protege

Historical Examples

  • This big lad, who had the massiveness and gentleness of a Fleming, was a protege of Lisa's.

    The Fat and the Thin

    Emile Zola

  • And of course she was, as always, glad to see her protege, her Robert Penfold.

    The Portygee

    Joseph Crosby Lincoln

  • It pleased him to make his protege, his adopted son-in-law, happy.

  • I beg your Royal Highness's pardon, I hope you have not forgotten your protege, my son.'

    Jack Hinton

    Charles James Lever

  • "I say, you do that first rate," cried Tommy, who considered Nat his protege.

    Little Men

    Louisa May Alcott

British Dictionary definitions for protege

protégé

feminine protge

noun
  1. a person who is protected and aided by the patronage of another person
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Word Origin

C18: from French protéger to protect
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 protege

n.

1778, from French protégé (fem. protégée) "one who is protected," noun use of past participle of Middle French protéger "protect," from Latin protegere (see protect; also cf. protection).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper