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taskmistress

American  
[task-mis-tris, tahsk-] / ˈtæskˌmɪs trɪs, ˈtɑsk- /

noun

  1. a woman whose function it is to assign tasks, especially burdensome ones, to others.

  2. a woman who supervises others' work rigorously.


Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of taskmistress

First recorded in 1595–1605; task + mistress

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.

See Examples For:

In the sweeping Scottish Highlands, Claudia Winkleman has played taskmistress for three weeks over an ever-shrinking band of players stationed at Ardross Castle.

From BBC Dec. 22, 2022

This description probably makes Ho sound like a taskmistress – an approachable one, but a drill coach more than the life coach that she is.

From Salon Nov. 24, 2022

Uncle Clifford is a taskmistress, but she minds her dancers less in the way of a madam than a mother hen.

From Salon Jun. 20, 2022

Ivana Trump was an immigrant from communist Czechoslovakia and a taskmistress who would not brook dissent.

From Time Nov. 29, 2

Whoever feels her hand upon a wounded, quivering heart, knows that she is the benefactress, not the taskmistress of humanity.

From On the Cross A Romance of the Passion Play at Oberammergau by Hillern, Wilhelmine von

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