matron

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ma·tron

 (mā′trən)
n.
1. A married woman or a widow, especially a mother of dignity, mature age, and established social position.
2. A woman who acts as a supervisor or monitor in a public institution, such as a school, hospital, or prison.

[Middle English matrone, from Old French, from Latin mātrōna, from māter, mātr-, mother; see māter- in Indo-European roots.]

ma′tron·al adj.
ma′tron·li·ness n.
ma′tron·ly adv. & adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

matron

(ˈmeɪtrən)
n
1. a married woman regarded as staid or dignified, esp a middle-aged woman with children
2. (Professions) a woman in charge of the domestic or medical arrangements in an institution, such as a boarding school
3. (Professions) US a wardress in a prison
4. (Professions) Brit the former name for the administrative head of the nursing staff in a hospital. Official name: nursing officer
5. (Medicine) Brit the former name for the administrative head of the nursing staff in a hospital. Official name: nursing officer
[C14: via Old French from Latin mātrōna, from māter mother]
ˈmatronal adj
ˈmatronˌhood, ˈmatronˌship n
ˈmatron-ˌlike adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ma•tron

(ˈmeɪ trən)

n.
1. a married woman, esp. one who is mature and dignified.
2. a woman who has charge of the domestic affairs of a hospital or other institution.
3. a woman officer, as in a prison for women.
[1350–1400; Middle English matrone < Latin mātrōna a married woman, wife, derivative of māter mother1]
ma•tron•al (ˈmeɪ trə nl, ˈmæ-) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.matron - a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignifiedmatron - a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified
married woman, wife - a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
2.matron - a wardress in a prison
wardress - a woman warder
3.matron - a woman in charge of nursing in a medical institutionmatron - a woman in charge of nursing in a medical institution
nurse - one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)
adult female, woman - an adult female person (as opposed to a man); "the woman kept house while the man hunted"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
رَئيسَة مُمَرِّضات في مُسْتَشْفىسَيِّدَه مُتَزَوِّجَه مَهيبَه
matrónavrchní sestra
forstanderfrue
férjes asszonyfõnõvér
forstöîukona, yfirhjúkrunarkonavirîuleg eldri frú
garbinga ištekėjusi moterissolidusvyresnioji medicinos sesuo
cienījama dāmaprecēta sievietevecākā māsavirsmāsa
directricehoofdverpleegstermatrone
matróna
ağırbaşlı evli kadınbaş hemşire

matron

[ˈmeɪtrən]
A. N
1. (in nursing home) → supervisora f
2. (o.f.) (in hospital) → enfermera f jefe
3. (in school) → enfermera f
4. (= married woman) → matrona f
B. CPD matron of honour Ndama f de honor (casada)
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

matron

[ˈmeɪtrən] n
(in hospital)infirmière-chef f
(in school)infirmière f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

matron

n
(in hospital) → Oberin f, → Oberschwester f; (in school) → Schwester f
(= married woman)Matrone f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

matron

[ˈmeɪtrn] n (Brit) (in hospital) → capoinfermiera; (in school) → infermiera; (older woman) → matrona
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

matron

(ˈmeitrən) noun
1. a senior nurse in charge of a hospital.
2. a dignified married woman. Her behaviour shocked all the middle-class matrons in the neighbourhood.
ˈmatronly adjective
1. dignified and calm.
2. rather fat. a matronly figure.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
Corney, the matron of the workhouse to which our readers have been already introduced as the birthplace of Oliver Twist, sat herself down before a cheerful fire in her own little room, and glanced, with no small degree of complacency, at a small round table: on which stood a tray of corresponding size, furnished with all necessary materials for the most grateful meal that matrons enjoy.
With these awful remarks, Mr Kenwigs sat himself down in a chair, and defied the nurse, who made the best of her way into the adjoining room, and returned with a stream of matrons: declaring that Mr Kenwigs had spoken blasphemy against his family, and must be raving mad.
Tell her to bid the matrons gather at the temple of Minerva in the acropolis; let her then take her key and open the doors of the sacred building; there, upon the knees of Minerva, let her lay the largest, fairest robe she has in her house--the one she sets most store by; let her, moreover, promise to sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad, in the temple of the goddess, if she will take pity on the town, with the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the son of Tydeus from falling on the goodly city of Ilius; for he fights with fury and fills men's souls with panic.
The less aristocratic matrons of Grimworth seemed likely at first to justify their husbands' confidence that they would never pay a percentage of profits on drop-cakes, instead of making their own, or get up a hollow show of liberal housekeeping by purchasing slices of collared meat when a neighbour came in for supper.
The matron sent me out to service with the character that I had honestly earned--the character of a reclaimed woman.
So when the approach of Mrs Deborah was proclaimed through the street, all the inhabitants ran trembling into their houses, each matron dreading lest the visit should fall to her lot.
The matron, seeing my lady took an interest in the place, pointed out a girl to her, named Rosanna Spearman, and told her a most miserable story, which I haven't the heart to repeat here; for I don't like to be made wretched without any use, and no more do you.
Now Doubt - now Pain Come never again, For her soul gives me sigh for sigh, And all day long Shines, bright and strong, Astarté within the sky, While ever to her dear Eulalie upturns her matron eye - While ever to her young Eulalie upturns her violet eye.
And to proper-minded maidens Who desire the matron's name Modesty's a marriage portion, Modesty their highest praise.
Nick-knock, nick-knock, went the cradle; the candle-flame stretched itself tall, and began jigging up and down; the water dribbled from the matron's elbows, and the song galloped on to the end of the verse, Mrs Durbeyfield regarding her daughter the while.
But this didn't quite suit his fastidious taste in another minute, being too shiny; so, as they walk up the town, they dive into Nixon's the hatter's, and Tom is arrayed, to his utter astonishment, and without paying for it, in a regulation cat-skin at seven-and- sixpence, Nixon undertaking to send the best hat up to the matron's room, School-house, in half an hour.
Again a mystic sisterhood would contumaciously assert itself, as she met the sanctified frown of some matron, who, according to the rumour of all tongues, had kept cold snow within her bosom throughout life.