[Latin fem. of coadjūtor, used in med. or mod.L.: see -TRIX.] A female coadjutor or helper.
1646. Earl Monmouth, trans. Biondi’s Civ. Warres Eng., VI.–IX. 115. Elizabeth the chiefe agent, and her mother … her co-adjutrix.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. VI. 260. Her, who … had with the late King been a Coadjutrix in raising it [the kingdom] to that degree of height and reputation.
a. 1797. H. Walpole, Mem. Geo. II. (1847), I. xi. 335. The coadjutrix soon replaced her instructress.
1853. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., 115. The novels of Swift’s coadjutrix, Mrs. Manley.
b. Eccl. A woman appointed as assistant and successor to an abbess.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist., I. III. x. 153. [The Abbess’s] Resignation was not received but her Sister was made Coadjutrix to her.
1813. Mary A. Schimmelpenninck, trans. Lancelot’s Tour Alet, 195. This lady took her as coadjutrix in the direction of the monastery of Port Royal.
Hence Coadjutrixship.
1837. Foreign Q. Rev., XIX. 103. Aurora of Königsmark failed of the coadjutrixship and consequent succession.
