benefactress

[ ben-uh-fak-tris, ben-uh-fak- ]

/ ˈbɛn əˌfæk trɪs, ˌbɛn əˈfæk- /

a woman who confers a benefit, bequest, endowment, or the like.

Also benefactrix.

Origin of benefactress

1425–75; late Middle English benefactrice; see benefactor, -ess

See -ess.

I think of one whom the poor of a great city know as their benefactress and friend.

The Real Memorial Day: Oliver Wendell Holmes's Salute To A Momentous American Anniversary |Malcolm Jones |May 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He was, in the first instance, a witness of the insolence with which a certain bishop treated his benefactress Eusebia.

A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 7 (of 10) |Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
My benefactress is right—you are right: why should I be ashamed of it?

The Wandering Jew, Complete |Eugene Sue
Of course I accepted this wonderful good fortune, and had no doubt in my own mind that Miss Havisham was my benefactress.

The World's Greatest Books, Vol III |Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton, Eds.

But his feelings soon underwent a change towards his benefactress.

The Beautiful White Devil |Guy Boothby
It was his chief souvenir of his relations with his friend and benefactress.

The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky |Modeste Tchaikovsky