Doyennes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A woman who is the senior member of a group or profession, recognized for her authority and experience in a specific field
2. A female leader or expert, particularly respected in her area of expertise due to her longevity and influence
3. The foremost female figure in a particular domain, often seen as a mentor or guiding force due to her extensive knowledge and status

Etymology: The plural "doyennes" is simply the regular English plural of "doyenne," so the story belongs to the singular. The feminine form "doyenne" comes from the French "doyenne," the feminine of "doyen," which is itself a descendant of Latin "decanus," meaning a chief of ten or the head of a group. Its ultimate ancestry runs back through the Latin "decem," or ten, a number that also underlies "decade." The French "doyen" was used for the most senior member of a body, and the feminine "doyenne" was formed to match it when a woman held that position. English borrowed the feminine form directly from French, so the word arrived in English already carrying its gendered sense. It is one of the few English nouns for a senior figure that keeps a distinct female form, a reminder of how the French original was built to mark the sex of the person it described.

Synonyms: matriarchs, leaders, elders, veterans, experts

Antonyms: novices, neophytes, beginners, amateurs, inexperienced