countess

See also: Countess

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman cuntesse, Old French contesse, from Latin comitessa. Doublet of contessa.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈkaʊntɨs/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

countess (plural countesses)

  1. The wife of a count or earl.
  2. 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
  • contessa (often specifically Italian)
  • (the wife of an earl, a female holder of an earldom): earless (nonstandard)

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams
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