duenna
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Duenna — Du*en na, n.; pl. {Duennas}. [Sp. due[ n]a, do[ n]a, fr. L. domina. See {Dame}.] 1. The chief lady in waiting on the queen of Spain. Brande. [1913 Webster] 2. An elderly lady holding a station between a governess and companion, and appointed to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Duenna — Duenna, in Spanien: Ehrendame, Erzieherin, Matrone, einem jungen Frauenzimmer als Hüterin beigegeben … Herders Conversations-Lexikon
duenna — 1660s, chief lady in waiting upon the queen of Spain, also an elderly woman in charge of girls from a Spanish family, from Sp. dueña married lady, mistress (fem. of dueño master ), from L. domina (see DAME (Cf. dame)). Sense extended in English… … Etymology dictionary
duenna — [do͞o en′ə, dyo͞oen′ə] n. [Sp dueña < L domina, mistress: see DAME] 1. an elderly woman who has charge of the girls and young unmarried women of a Spanish or Portuguese family 2. a chaperon or governess … English World dictionary
duenna — duennaship, n. /dooh en euh, dyooh /, n. 1. (in Spain and Portugal) an older woman serving as escort or chaperon of a young lady. 2. a governess. [1660 70; < Sp duenna (now dueña) < L domina, fem. of dominus master] * * * … Universalium
duenna — (doo EHN nah) [Spanish, from Latin] In Spain and Portugal, an older woman who acts as a chaperon, escort, or companion to a young lady; a governess. As a young woman of good family, she could not receive a suitor without the presence of a… … Dictionary of foreign words and phrases
duenna — noun a) a chaperon of a young lady, usually an older woman. b) a governess or nanny … Wiktionary
duenna — Synonyms and related words: abigail, amah, au pair girl, ayah, betweenmaid, biddy, bodyguard, cavalier, chambermaid, chaperon, companion, conductor, convoy, cook, dame, educatress, escort, esquire, fellow traveler, femme de chambre, fille de… … Moby Thesaurus
duenna — see DAME … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
duenna — Governess or chaperon; in Spanish, dueña … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
