Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Plural form of duenna.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word duennas.

Examples

  • The girls sat on one side of the hall, chaperoned by their mothers or some old duennas, and the men on the other.

    She Makes Her Mouth Small & Round & Other Stories 2010

  • At this her vitals fluttered, her reason fled and she shrieked a loud shriek which awoke all her slave girls and nurses and duennas.

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • “What say you, Catherine,” he said, “if we two, thus strangely turned out of service at the same time, should give our two most venerable duennas the torch to hold, while we walk a merry measure with each other over the floor of this weary world?”

    The Abbot 2008

  • So he summoned an old woman of the duennas of his wives and said to her, Go to the house of

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • She did not intend to wither and grow old amid the many neglected old duennas to be seen in Santa Fe.

    The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

  • As soon as the band of duennas was fully in sight, the duke, the duchess, and Don Quixote stood up, as well as all who were watching the slow – moving procession.

    Don Quixote 2002

  • While all were, as has been said, observing him, suddenly from among the duennas and handmaidens the impudent and witty Altisidora lifted up her voice and said in pathetic tones:

    Don Quixote 2002

  • Following the melancholy musicians there filed into the garden as many as twelve duennas, in two lines, all dressed in ample mourning robes apparently of milled serge, with hoods of fine white gauze so long that they allowed only the border of the robe to be seen.

    Don Quixote 2002

  • Here the Distressed One and the other duennas raised the veils with which they were covered, and disclosed countenances all bristling with beards, some red, some black, some white, and some grizzled, at which spectacle the duke and duchess made a show of being filled with wonder.

    Don Quixote 2002

  • "With this good fellow here," said the duenna, "who has particularly requested me to go and put an ass of his that is at the castle gate into the stable, holding it up to me as an example that they did the same I don't know where — that some ladies waited on one Lancelot, and duennas on his hack; and what is more, to wind up with, he called me old."

    Don Quixote 2002

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.