governante (guvernant)

[F.gouvernante (=Sp. gobernante = Pg. governante = It. gover nante ), a governor's wife, a governe , a housekeeper, fem. of gouvernant, ppr. of gouverner, govern: see govern, v.] A woman who has the care and management of children or of a house; a governe . [Obsolete or archaic.] I saw Envy there drest up in a widow's veil, and the very picture of the governante of one of your nobleman's houses. Sir R. L'Estrange , tr. of Quevedo's Visions, p. 38. Appears the Governante of th' House; For such in Greece were much in use. Prior, Pro to genes and Apelles. governationt, n. [ governacioun , gouvernacion = Sp. go be rna cion = Pg . govern ação = It. govern azione , gubernatio ( n- ), gubernare , govern: see gor ern and -ation .] Management; control. Aron, that hadde the temple in governacioun . Chaucer , Summoner's Tale, 1. 186.