The story
- Old French · derived fromgoverneresse“female ruler or administrator”
- Middle English · inherited fromgovernesse
- English todaygoverness
From Middle English governesse, a contracted form of governeresse, from Old French governeresse (“female ruler or administrator”). In later senses, equivalent to govern(or) + -ess.
Words from the same roots
Old Frenchgoverneresse all →
governeressgovernoress
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.