Also 7 tutillage, 8 tutilage. [f. L. tūtēla watching, keeping, guardianship (f. tūt-, ppl. stem of tuērī to watch) + -AGE.]
1. The office or function of a guardian; protection, care, guardianship, patronage; governorship of a ward. Also fig.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. IV. Handie-crafts, Ded. To beare againe … The noble Pasport of thy Tutelage, To salue her still from sullen Enuies wound.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., iii. 217. That Citie … The Tutilage whereof … Some to Minerua gaue, and some to Hercules.
1689. Def. Liberty agst. Tyrants, 29. A slave, or one that is under tutillage.
1777. Priestley, Disc. Philos. Necess., 205. It came forth under my tutilage and kind protection.
1832. trans. Sismondi’s Ital. Rep., iii. 60. Reigning under the pope’s tutelage over the Two Sicilies only.
1879. Dixon, Windsor, I. xviii. 187. Under the tutelage of a patron saint.
b. Instruction, tuition.
1857. H. Miller, Test. Rocks, vi. 221. The dog acquires, under his tutelage, the virtues of fidelity … and affection.
1857. Kingsley, Two Y. Ago (1877), 243. Under whose tutelage he had learnt to smoke … assiduously.
1863. Holland, Lett. Joneses, xvii. 447. Under the tutelage of several different masters.
2. The condition of being under protection or guardianship.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low C. Warres, IV. 87. On his Christening day they delivered him in tutelage to the Prince Electour Augustus.
1792. V. Knox, Serm., xiv. 309. Pleasure … during the period of tutelage, engaged only a part of her votary’s attention.
1878. Miss Braddon, Open Verd., ii. At seventeen, when he was in his state of tutelage.
