Pl. -women. [f. state’s genitive of STATE sb. + WOMAN, after STATESMAN1.] A woman who takes part in the conduct of public affairs; a woman with statesmanlike ability.
1609. B. Jonson, Epicœne, II. ii. So she may … be a States-woman, know all the Newes, [etc.].
1715. Addison, Freeholder, No. 45, ¶ 9. Of this kind are the Passions of our States-women, and the Reasonings of our Fox-hunters.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, II. xi. Lady Firebrace, a great stateswoman among the tories.
1885. Society in Lond., vii. 164. The Queen is a theologian as well as a stateswoman.
1912. E. Russell, Maitland of Lethington, i. 14. The politic Regent was stateswoman enough to appreciate these qualities, which she in some measure shared.
transf. 1826. Miss Mitford, Village, II. 88. She was … a perfect stateswoman; wound the whole school round her finger; and wanted nothing of art but the art to conceal it.
