( feminine pro·té·gée ) / ˈprɒtəʒeɪ; NAmE ˈproʊt-/ noun
(from French ) a young person who is helped in their career and personal development by a more experienced person :
a protégé of the great violinist Yehudi Menuhin
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: French , literally protected , past participle of protéger , from Latin protegere cover in front, from pro- in front + tegere to cover.