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Matron vs Patroness - What's the difference?

matron | patroness |

As nouns the difference between matron and patroness

is that matron is a mature woman; a wife or a widow, especially, one who has borne children; a woman of staid or motherly manners while patroness is a woman who sponsors or supports a given activity, person etc.; a female patron.

matron

English

(Webster 1913)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A mature woman; a wife or a widow, especially, one who has borne children; a woman of staid or motherly manners.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:your wives, your daughters, your matrons , and your maids
  • *(Thomas Fuller) (1606-1661)
  • *:grave from her cradle, insomuch that she was a matron before she was a mother
  • *
  • *:“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron ; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable,.
  • A housekeeper; especially, a woman who manages the domestic economy of a public institution; a head nurse in a hospital.
  • :

    • patroness

    English

    Noun

    (patronesses)
  • A woman who sponsors or supports a given activity, person etc.; a female patron.
  • *1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.10:
  • *:And Night, the patronesse of love-stealth fayre, / Gave them safe conduct, till to end they came.
  • * James Branch Cabell

    • Anagrams

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