Governesses

/ˈɡʌvɚnəsɪz/ noun

Definition

Plural of governess; multiple women employed to teach and care for children in private households.

Etymology

Plural of 'governess', from Old French 'gouvernante' and Latin 'gubernare' (to govern). The regular English plural '-es' is added to the singular form.

Kelly Says

Governesses were the backbone of Victorian and Edwardian education, and they appear constantly in literature—Jane Eyre, Mary Poppins, and countless other stories center on this pivotal role!

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