tutelary adj. + Add to list tute·lary SynonymsEtymology Synonyms custodialtutelarOriginLATtūtēlārius→ENtutelary From Latin tūtēlārius (“guardian”), from tūtēla (“tutelage, guardianship; dependent, client”) + -ārius (suffix denoting an agent of use); analysable as tutelar + -ary.