votaress

[ voh-ter-is ]

noun

, Now Rare.

1. a woman who is a votary.

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of votaress¹

First recorded in 1580–90; votar(y) + -ess

Example Sentences

Dame Fortune! all your acts and deeds confess That you are foul oppression's votaress; You cherish bad men, and annoy the good; Is this from dotage, or sheer foolishness?

From Project Gutenberg

All wait for the votaress, but she is detained by a crowd of friends.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus he commanded; and incontinent The dwarf departed like a red ray sent From rich down-flowering clouds of suffused light Winged o'er long, purple glooms; and with the night, Whose votaress cypress stoled the dying strife Softly of day, and for whose perished life Gave heaven her golden stars, in dreamy thought Wends Accolon to hazy Chariot.

From Project Gutenberg

My thoughts have borne me far away To Visions of a wiser day, Where, stealing through the wilderness, Night walks, a sad-eyed votaress, And prays with mystic words she hears Behind the thunder of the spheres, The starry utterance that's hers, With which she fills the Universe.

From Project Gutenberg

Randal took up the book which the Marchesa laid down; it was the same that had charmed the circle at Hazeldean—charmed the innocent and fresh-hearted—charmed now the wearied and tempted votaress of the world.

From Project Gutenberg