Chiefly 17th c. [f. COMMANDER + -ESS.) A female commander.
1592. Nobody & Someb. (1878), 326. That I might live … To have that sterne commandresse in my power!
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. VI. ii. (1651), 555. She was the commandress of his heart.
1650[?]. Don Bellianis, 219. Commandress over so many Kings, Princes, Lords and Signories.
1819. L. Hunt, Indicator, No. 8 (1822), I. 63. The King made her commandress of Santos.
1871. Carlyle, in Mrs. Carlyle’s Lett., II. 157. My own little heroine was … inventress, commandress, guiding head and soul of everything.
b. fig. (of things personified).
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1617), 197. Wisedome … as Queene or soueraigne commandresse ouer other vertues.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xxiv. (1632), 1191. The Nauy the Commandresse of the Seas.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1717), IV. 418. Money; the absolute Commandress of Fleets and Armies.
