duenna

/dü-ˈe-nə dyü-/ (ame, mw)

duenna — noun

1. in older Spanish or Portuguese homes, an older woman whose duty was to watch ove

1.名詞C2
釋義

in older Spanish or Portuguese homes, an older woman whose duty was to watch over young unmarried women, go with them, and help manage their daily conduct.

例句

In the old Madrid household, the duenna walked with Nora to every music lesson.

duenna + walk with + young woman

Yuki's duenna sat beside her during visits from the family's dinner guests.

同義詞
  • governess

    focuses more on teaching and child care; a duenna is more closely tied to supervision and companionship

  • companion

    can simply mean a person who keeps someone company, without authority over them

  • chaperone

    broader and less tied to a permanent household role

用法筆記

Historical and culture-specific: this sense belongs to older Spanish or Portuguese family life and usually describes a resident older woman with an ongoing duty. Distinguish from sense 2, which can refer to a woman acting as a chaperone for one social event or trip.

常見錯誤

❌The hotel hired a duenna to check passports.
✅The hotel hired a receptionist to check passports.
💡'duenna' is not a general female staff title; it refers to a woman supervising young women, especially in historical settings.

2. an older woman who goes with a younger woman so that meetings, outings, or trave

2.名詞C2
釋義

an older woman who goes with a younger woman so that meetings, outings, or travel happen under proper social supervision.

例句

At the dance, Jenna's aunt acted as a duenna and watched every conversation.

act as a duenna at a social event

Christopher joked that Ari's older cousin had become their unofficial duenna on dates.

同義詞
  • chaperone

    the nearest modern equivalent and the usual everyday word

  • escort

    can mean a companion without the social-control role that 'duenna' suggests

  • minder

    more informal and can refer to any gender

用法筆記

Usually used for dances, visits, or travel where a younger woman is not expected to go alone. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to a standing household role rather than temporary supervision for a single occasion.

常見錯誤

❌My brother was my duenna at the concert.
✅My aunt was my duenna at the concert.
💡a duenna is traditionally a woman, not a male escort or companion.