Also 6 -isse, 7 -esse, voteress. (Cf. VOTRESS1.) [f. VOTAR-Y + -ESS.] A female votary; esp. a woman devoted to a religious life or to a special saint.
1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., VI. xxx. (1592), 133. The wrong must then by Phœbe be excused, Who, rescuing her Votarisse, did so preuent her brother.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 887. Neare this place, at Caspalia, dwelt a Votaresse, who beeing sicke and past recouery, sent her garment to the shrine.
1654. R. Codrington, trans. Iustine, XLIII. 503. She seemed not so much to be a person condemned, as a Voteress elected.
1670. Covel, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 114. If a poor Votaresse there … should by chance steal a taste of forbidden pleasure.
1798. Sotheby, trans. Wieland’s Oberon (1826), I. 85. Thou heavenly maid Who bad’st this knight thy votaress defend.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xiii. Rather will Ellen Douglas dwell A votaress in Maronnan’s cell.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, IX. iii. The same [book] which had charmed the circle at Hazeldean—… charmed now the wearied and tempted votaress of the world.
1879. Dixon, Windsor, I. iii. 25. At length the votaress yielded to these prayers.
attrib. 1897. F. Thompson, New Poems, 138. Ruled lips Befit a votaress Muse.
