A female governess or a woman appointed to educate and supervise children in a household, especially in French-speaking contexts.
From French 'gouvernante', the feminine form of 'gouvernant' (one who governs), derived from Latin 'gubernare' (to steer, govern). The French term entered English as a borrowed word for a specific social role.
The word 'gouvernante' is the French version of 'governess'—both languages needed a special word for this job because it was such a crucial (and often difficult) position in aristocratic households!
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