Tutelary
/ˈtjuːtəlɛri/noun
Serving as a guardian, protector, or patron; relating to tutelage or guardianship.
Did you know?In Roman religion, a tutelary deity was a protective god or spirit assigned to a person, place, or community, so the word still carries the eerie sense of a being assigned to guard you.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
tūtēlāris
“pertaining to guardianship or protection”
Classical Latin
Latin
tūtēla
“guardianship, protection, wardship”
Proto-Italic
PIE
*teuh₂-
“to protect, watch over”
Middle English
English
tutelarie
“serving as a guardian or protector”
Modern English
English
tutelary
“serving as a guardian or protector”