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patroness

patroness

3 7.8
A woman who gives money or help to charities and artists and sometimes the wife of a male supporter
  • noun
  • /ˈpeɪtrənɪs/
translation icon : patrona
  • As a devoted patroness of the local theater, she donates money to support new productions.

But I thought we would start with looking at the one to Athena sense, you know, patroness of wisdom and all those connections, right?

Examples

  • Behold our patroness, the life of Rome.

  • I am honored to have as my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourg.

  • I've agreed to be patroness at the ball at Government House tomorrow night.

  • Our gracious patroness, Lady Ashley!

  • Ladies and gentlemen, our sponsor and patroness, Lady Margaret Delacourt.

  • Elizabeth is my patroness.

  • Rosings Park is the residence of my noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

  • And thirdly, that it is at the urging of my esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine, that I select a wife.

  • "He taught that Guadalupe is a mother, evangelizer, and patroness whose message calls all peoples of the hemisphere to form a united American continent.

    Academic text (2009)
  • There they were providentially discovered by the owner of the OK Trading Center, who brought them to the attention of the city's leading patroness, Dominique de Menil.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

patron
vspatroness
61 3.5

A person who gives money or other help to support people, groups and causes

is specifically a woman and can also mean the wife of a supporter
benefactor
vspatroness
46 4.6

A person who gives money or help to others

is female and can also mean the wife of a supporter rather than any helper
patronne
vspatroness
  • UK
9.6

A woman who is the boss of a small business like a restaurant or hotel

focuses on giving support or being the wife, not business management

Surface Forms

patroness singular
patronesses plural

Morphology

patroness = patron (transparent) = patron + ess

Clear feminine formation from 'patron' with the suffix '-ess', yielding 'female patron'; meaning is directly derived though '-ess' can be stylistically marked or less common.

Etymology

The word patroness comes from the word patron, which means someone who 'supports' or 'protects' people or projects, and the ending -ess marks a woman. So a patroness is a woman who gives money or help to a person, group, or cause.