protégé

[proh-tuh-zhey, proh-tuh-zhey]

noun

a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.

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. 2019

Related Words for protege

apprentice, charge, discovery, student, ward

Examples from the Web for protege

Historical Examples of protege

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.
An Outcast of the Islands
Joseph Conrad
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

a person who is protected and aided by the patronage of another person

Word Origin for protégé

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

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).