governess Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
  2. verb bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations
    regularize; regularise; regulate; order; govern.
    • We cannot regulate the way people dress
    • This town likes to regulate
  3. verb direct or strongly influence the behavior of
    govern.
    • His belief in God governs his conduct
  4. verb exercise authority over; as of nations
    rule; govern.
    • Who is governing the country now?
  5. verb require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood
    govern.
    • most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German

WordNet

Gov"ern*ess noun
Etymology
Cf. OF. governeresse. See Governor.
Definitions
  1. A female governor; a woman invested with authority to control and direct; especially, one intrusted with the care and instruction of children, -- usually in their homes.

Webster 1913