benefactress

[ ben-uh-fak-tris, ben-uh-fak- ]

/ ˈbɛn əˌfæk trɪs, ˌbɛn əˈfæk- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR benefactress ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a woman who confers a benefit, bequest, endowment, or the like.

Also benefactrix.

Origin of benefactress

1425–75; late Middle English benefactrice;see benefactor, -ess

usage note for benefactress

See -ess.

Words nearby benefactress

Benedict XVI, benef., benefaction, benefactive, benefactor, benefactress, benefactrix, benefic, benefice, beneficence, beneficent

Example sentences from the Web for benefactress

I think of one whom the poor of a great city know as their benefactress and friend.
The Real Memorial Day: Oliver Wendell Holmes's Salute To A Momentous American Anniversary|Malcolm Jones|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was, in the first instance, a witness of the insolence with which a certain bishop treated his benefactress Eusebia.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 7 (of 10)|Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
My benefactress is right—you are right: why should I be ashamed of it?
The Wandering Jew, Complete|Eugene Sue
Of course I accepted this wonderful good fortune, and had no doubt in my own mind that Miss Havisham was my benefactress.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol III|Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton, Eds.

But his feelings soon underwent a change towards his benefactress.
The Beautiful White Devil|Guy Boothby
It was his chief souvenir of his relations with his friend and benefactress.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky