protégé

[ proh-tuh-zhey, proh-tuh-zhey ]

/ ˈproʊ təˌʒeɪ, ˌproʊ təˈʒeɪ /

a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.

Origin of protégé

1780–90; < French, noun use of past participle of protéger to protect < Latin prōtegere. See protect

prodigy protégé

But this ingrate was no daughter of mine, but my protege—something to fasten the heart on, as one loves a Skye terrier.

The Old Countess; or, The Two Proposals |Ann S. Stephens
At that moment her protege was extremely distasteful to the lady.

Life at High Tide |Various
And she went, fully convinced that her protege Garangeot would conduct the orchestra for good.

Cousin Pons |Honore de Balzac
For some reason or other he was taken under the protecting wing of Dan Coughlin, of whom he came to be regarded as a protege.

The Crime of the Century |Henry M. Hunt

A guardian angel in that event will find it very difficult to save his protege from the hemlock.

A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10) |Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)

protégé

/ (ˈprəʊtɪˌʒeɪ) /

a person who is protected and aided by the patronage of another person

C18: from French protéger to protect