Duennas

/duˈɛnəz/ noun

Definition

Plural of duenna; multiple elderly women serving as housekeepers or chaperones.

Etymology

Standard English plural of duenna, formed by adding -s to the Spanish loanword.

Kelly Says

In 17th and 18th-century literature, you often see duennas appearing in groups—the famous 'duenna scenes' where these older women would scheme, gossip, and ultimately control romantic outcomes from behind the scenes. They were the real power brokers!

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