countess
See also: Countess
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Anglo-Norman cuntesse, Old French contesse, from Latin comitessa; equivalent to count + -ess. Doublet of contessa.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
countess (plural countesses)
- The wife of a count or earl.
- A woman holding the rank of count or earl in her own right; a female holder of an earldom.
- Elizabeth Millicent Leveson-Gower is 24th Countess of Sutherland; her son will be the 25th Earl.
Synonyms edit
- (the wife of an earl, a female holder of an earldom): earless (nonstandard)
Hyponyms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
wife of a count or earl
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