A woman who performed prayers or religious services in exchange for food and lodging at an almshouse or charitable institution.
Compound from 'bede' (from Old English 'bēd' meaning 'prayer') and 'woman,' describing a female religious servant or caretaker in medieval charitable institutions.
A 'bedewoman' had an interesting bargain—she'd live in an almshouse and in return would pray for the benefactors and other residents, turning prayer into a form of labor exchange in medieval society.
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