Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home);
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Governess \Gov"ern*ess\, n. [Cf. OF. governeresse. See
Governor.]
A female governor; a woman invested with authority to control
and direct; especially, one intrusted with the care and
instruction of children, -- usually in their homes.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
governess
n 1: a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child
(especially in a private home)
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
22 Moby Thesaurus words for "governess":
abbess, chaperon, chatelaine, dame, dowager, duenna, educatress,
first lady, goodwife, great lady, homemaker, housewife,
instructress, madam, matriarch, matron, mistress, mother superior,
schooldame, schoolmarm, schoolmistress, tutoress