protégé
/ˈprɒtəʒeɪ
/ /ˈprəʊtəʒeɪ/noun (feminine protégée pronounced same)
A person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person: Ruskin submitted his protégé’s name for election...
- The maverick Svengali continues to gather followers and protégés.
- Brezhnev, a protégé and supporter of Khrushchev, fainted in one of them and had to be revived in a nearby room.
- Like any good manager he has handled his young protégé with kid gloves.
Synonyms
pupil, student, trainee, apprentice;
disciple, follower, discovery, ward, dependant, charge, mentee
archaic fosterling
Origin
Late 18th century: French, literally 'protected', past participle of protéger, from Latin protegere 'cover in front' (see protect).