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Is there a word for . . .

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(@Anonymous)
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My daughter is a nanny.  When she goes to work she "nannies" or is "nannying."  I have referred to the family of the child who hired her as her "nanny family."  But what is the word for the child?  I have not been able to find one.

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Posts: 859
(@emmettredd)
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Joined: 18 years ago

charge(s) works. Here is the first part of an OxED entry:

14.
a. A thing or person entrusted to the care or management of any one.

I did not include the quotations because they did not illustrate this broader meaning very well.

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deaconB
Posts: 742
(@deke)
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Joined: 12 years ago
American Heritage uses a slightly broader definition for that sense of charge
to impute; ascribe the responsibility for:

He charged the accident to his own carelessness.
 
It's not just nannies that have charges.  When the scoutmaster leads a camping trip, the scouts are his charges, and the student passengers are the charges of the school bus driver.  Passengers on a regular bus are not charges, as the driver's responsibility is just to transport people, not so much to care for them.  On the other hand a minister considers the congregation his charges, even when they've left church and are footloose and fancy-free, becayse he remains responsible for their spiritual well-being.
 
Last time, I had a job, my boss didn't consider me a charge, so much as a charge-off.  (I didn't think much of him, either.)
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(@Anonymous)
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deaconB, I don't think you have a match: your definition is for one of the verb definitions, whereas Emmett's is for one of the noun definitions. That particular noun definition fits well, but sounds a bit cold if the relationship is affectionate. I can't think of a warmer alternative offhand.

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deaconB
Posts: 742
(@deke)
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Joined: 12 years ago

The dinition ass a noun is

a duty or responsibility laid upon or entrusted to one.
 
Which is to say one is cxharged with caring for your charges,
 

"Nanny" is a job.  You know, like "if you want me to do it, you need to pay me."

We're not talking about Big Brothers / Big Sisters.  My favorite waitress greets me with a warm smile, and she means it, but if she doesn't feed me, I won't return, and if I don't pay, I can't return.  Nursing is called patient care, even if it's Mildred Ratched.

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