godmother

Etymology

From Middle English godmoder, from Old English godmōdor (“godmother”), equivalent to god + mother. Cognate with Old High German gotmuoter (“godmother”), Old Norse guðmóðir (“godmother”), Icelandic guðmóður (“godmother”), Swedish gudmoder (“godmother”), Danish gudmor (“godmother”).

noun

1. A woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a female godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child.

verb

1. (transitive) To act as godmother to.
   The servants took to her – as they say – she godmothered three Susans during her rule, the coachman's, the gardener's and the Up Hill gamekeeper's. 1909, H. G. Wells, Tono-Bungay