protectorship

Variant of protector

protector definition

pro·tec·tor (prə tek′tər, 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
      in full Lord Protector

Etymology: ME protectour < MFr < LL protector

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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