patroness

From Middle English patronesse, from Late Latin patronissa, from Classical Latin patrōnus.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpeɪtɹənɪs/, /ˌpeɪtɹəˈnɛs/

patroness (plural patronesses)

1. A woman who sponsors or supports a given activity, person etc.; a female patron.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.10:

     And Night, the patronesse of love-stealth fayre, / Gave them safe conduct, till to end they came.

   • James Branch Cabell

     […] having children, and serving on committees and boards of patronesses, and maintaining an undiscouraging bank-balance, and being attended a little more and more frequently by physicians […]

• near posts, postnares, prostanes, sparstone, transpose