(a.) Having the guardianship or charge of protecting a person or a thing; guardian; protecting; as, tutelary goddesses.

ancestral spirits angel attendant godling control covering custodial daemon defensive demon fairy godmother familiar familiar spirit fostering genius genius domus genius loci good angel good genius guardian guardian angel guardian spirit guarding guide household gods immunizing invisible helper lares and penates lares compitales lares familiaris lares permarini lares praestites lares viales manes ministering angel numen parental penates preventive prophylactic protecting protective safeguarding screening sheltering shielding special providence totem tutelar god vigilant watchful