tutelary

[ toot-l-er-ee, tyoot- ]

adjective

1. having the position of guardian or protector of a person, place, or thing:

   tutelary saint.

2. of or relating to a guardian or guardianship.

noun

, plural tu·te·lar·ies.

1. a person who has tutelary powers, as a saint, deity, or guardian.

tutelary

/ ˈtjuːtɪlərɪ; ˈtjuːtɪlə /

adjective

1. invested with the role of guardian or protector
2. of or relating to a guardian or guardianship

noun

1. a tutelary person, deity, or saint

Other Words From

• super·tute·lary adjective
• un·tute·lar adjective
• un·tute·lary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tutelary¹

1605–15; < Latin tūtēlārius guardian; tutelage, -ary

Example Sentences

The Lar or tutelary divinity of the house seems, however, to have retained his ancient place in the trium.

From Project Gutenberg

Zulus are great believers in tutelary spirits, of which each individual has one or more continually watching over him.

From Project Gutenberg

To return to the theory that totems are tutelary spirits in animal or other natural forms.

From Project Gutenberg

The Euahlayi, in Australia for instance, call tutelary spirits yunbeai; hereditary totems they call by a separate name, Dhe.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the Thlinket, totemic on Australian primitive lines, do not regard their hereditary exogamous totems as "tutelary spirits."

From Project Gutenberg