governoress

The story

1. Old French · derived fromgoverneresse
2. Middle English · inherited fromgoverneresse
3. English todaygovernoress

Originally from Middle English governeresse, from Old French governeresse. In this form (with -o-; unlike governeress, governer seems to have never been more common than the -o- form) and later uses, directly from governor + -ess.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1826 (mention)/1855; -e- form: c. 1422 A woman employed to educate children in private households.
• from 1869; -e- form: c. 1425 (c. 1370) A female governor.
• from 1820 The wife of a governor.