governanteEtymologyFrom Dutch gouvernante, and its source, Middle French gouvernante. Compare govern.governante means A female ruler or regent. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.nounA female ruler or regent.A woman in charge of someone else, especially a child or young woman; a governess.“When it came to his turn to mention Sir John Sparkle, he represented him as a man of an immense estate and narrow disposition, who mewed up his only child, a fine young lady, from the conversation of mankind, under the strict watch and inspection of an old governante […].”