[fem. of CONDUCTOR: cf. F. conducteresse (15th c.): see -ESS.]
1. A female conductor, leader, or guide.
1624. Ford, Sun’s Darling, IV. i. Be my conductress: I’ll fly this place in secret.
1827. Moore, Epicur., x. (1839), 90. I felt the pace of my conductress quicken.
1861. Dickens, Gt. Expect., viii. My young conductress locked the gate.
fig. 1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., I. iv. Theology is the best conductress.
1809. W. Taylor, in Monthly Mag., XXVII. 456. Can’t advance further than his conductress Providence permits.
b. A female carrier. Obs.
1772. Town & Country Mag., 123. The conductress of the parcel.
2. A female manager or director. † Formerly, also, a woman who conducted the education and ‘breeding’ of any one, a governess.
1760. Foote, Minor, III. i. The mistress … professed the same principles with my infamous conductress.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., II. 10 June, Let. iii. Your aunt is not the sole conductress of this machine.
1801. Mar. Edgeworth, Mlle. Panache (1832), 273. The baleful influence of lady Augusta’s attendant and conductress.
1861. trans. Humboldt, in Sat. Rev., 18 May, 513. I receive letters … from aspiring poets … conductresses of benevolent institutions.
