Mediatresses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Females who act as intermediaries or negotiators between parties to resolve disputes or facilitate communication
2. Women serving as agents or go-betweens who help reconcile differences or promote agreements among conflicting groups
3. Female mediators who intervene to ease tensions, support dialogue, or influence outcomes between opposing sides

Etymology: "Mediatresses" is the plural of "mediatress", a female mediator. The base word is "mediator", which comes from Latin "mediator", meaning one who intervenes or goes between, derived from "mediare", to be in the middle. The "-ess" ending is the familiar suffix used to mark a female person, as in "actress" or "hostess", and it was attached to "mediator" to create a feminine form. Because the root is so plainly "mediator" with a feminine ending, the word needs little more explanation. Its sense follows directly from the idea of standing in the middle: a woman who stands between two opposing parties and helps them reach agreement.

Synonyms: mediators, intermediaries

Antonyms: opponents