protector

(prə tektər, prō-)

noun

  1. a person or thing that protects; guardian; defender
  2. Eng. History
    1. a person ruling a kingdom during the minority, absence, or incapacity of the sovereign
    2. the title held by Oliver Cromwell (1653-58) and his son Richard (1658-59), during the British Protectorate

Origin: ME protectour < MFr < LL protector

Related Forms:

See protector in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also pro·tect·er

noun
  1. One who protects; a guardian.
  2. A device that protects; a guard.
  3. Protector
    a. A person who rules a kingdom during the minority of a sovereign.
    b. The head of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 to 1659.

Related Forms:

  • pro·tecˈtor·al adjective
  • pro·tecˈtor·shipˌ noun

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