benefactress
1
7.7
- noun
- /ˌbɛnɪˈfæktrɪs/
:
benefactora
- Every year, the school holds a gala to honor its benefactresses who provide vital funding for scholarships.
Examples
-
It was bequeathed to him by his friend-cum-benefactress, Sarah Anne Ellis Dorsey.
Blog text (29) -
Barbara knew she did not deserve this gratitude, but had no choice but to play the part Joanne had assigned her: benefactress, lady bountiful, next of kin, with family visiting hours and the right to consult directly with Joanne's doctor.
Fiction book (1994) -
It was your kind benefactress who suggested the plan.
-
Now, I would like to thank our most generous benefactress, Madame Slate, for her fine support over the years.
Fiction book (1994) -
The recipient, I can clearly see, of every care... which her loving benefactress could lavish upon her.
-
"And Senhor Varanda called her "the worthy benefactress of the poor."
Fiction book (1995) -
It was Karen who first brought me to one whom I'd always idolized, one who became my benefactress and champion.
-
As reiterated so often during this period, Polirone's prestige and prosperity derived from its benefactress.
Academic text (1999) -
Catholics had a few facilities for those who could afford to pay, such as the Saint Joseph's Home for the Aged in New York City, which the Sisters of Charity established with the proceeds from a benefactress in 1866.
Academic text (1992) -
Thanks to her generous benefactress, the charity was able to expand its services to help more families.
Synonyms
230
3.0
A person who gives money or things to help a charity
46
4.6
A person who gives money or help to others
30
7.0
A person who gives money to help people or charities
16
3.7
A person or group that gives money to support a project
How Generous
Surface Forms
Morphology
benefactress = benefactor (transparent) = benefactor + ess
Formed by applying the feminine suffix '-ess' to the agent noun 'benefactor', so the meaning 'female giver of help' is directly derived.
Etymology
Benefactress comes from bene 'good' and -fact- 'to do', and the ending -ess marks a woman, as in actress and related to benefactor. So a benefactress is a woman who 'does good' by giving help, often money.