burgess

[bur-jis]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR burgess ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

American History. a representative in the popular branch of the colonial legislature of Virginia or Maryland.

(formerly) a representative of a borough in the British Parliament.

Rare. an inhabitant of an English borough.

Origin of burgess

1175–1225; Middle English burgeis < Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to burg city (< Germanic) + -eis < Latin -ēnsis -ensis; cf. -ese

Burgess

[bur-jis]

noun

Anthony,1917–93, English novelist and critic.

(Frank) Ge·lett

[juh-let] /dʒəˈlɛt/, 1866–1951, U.S. illustrator and humorist.

Thornton Waldo,1874–1965, U.S. author, especially of children's books.

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for burgess

voter, civilian, resident, national, settler, inhabitant, taxpayer, villager, dweller, commoner, aborigine, denizen, subject, householder, occupant, native, cosmopolite, burgher, townsperson, urbanite

Examples from the Web for burgess

Contemporary Examples of burgess

Calls to Burgess to comment on this story were not returned.
The Navy ‘Hero’ Who Pimped an HIV-Positive Teen
M.L. Nestel
December 11, 2014
In any case, Burgess likes to rail against these pushy liberals and their tricky, communistic light bulbs.
The GOP’s Relentless Crusade to Save America From Commie Light Bulbs
Michael Tomasky
January 17, 2014
Burgess, nominated for Earthly Powers, would not attend the ceremony unless the committee guaranteed him a win.
The 12 Biggest Booker Prize Controversies
Thomas Flynn
July 23, 2013
It was Philby, it turned out, who alerted Maclean and Burgess that they should escape to the Soviet Union in 1951.
Edward Snowden Risks Sharing Fate of Kim Philby, Guy Burgess & More
Malcolm Jones
July 2, 2013
Any public attention had been on his possible role in tipping off Burgess and Maclean.
The Charmed Life of a Traitor
Harold Evans
November 6, 2009

Historical Examples of burgess

Stephen caught the bridle, and Ambrose helped the burgess into the saddle.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
Some years ago, your good town did me the honour of making me an honorary Burgess.
The Letters of Robert Burns
Robert Burns
"Oh, Cap'n Burgess didn't fix the table, if that's what you mean," said the new nurse.
Cap'n Eri
Joseph Crosby Lincoln
They also ordered every burgess to provide himself with a bucket.
William Shakespeare
Samuel Levy Bensusan
She then suddenly remembered that Mr. Burgess was no longer living in her hotel.
Telepathy
W. W. Baggally

British Dictionary definitions for burgess

burgess

noun

(in England)

a citizen or freeman of a borough
any inhabitant of a borough

English history a Member of Parliament from a borough, corporate town, or university

a member of the colonial assembly of Maryland or Virginia

Word Origin for burgess

C13: from Old French burgeis, from borc town, from Late Latin burgus, of Germanic origin; see borough

Burgess

noun

Anthony, real name John Burgess Wilson . 1917–93, English novelist and critic: his novels include A Clockwork Orange (1962), Tremor of Intent (1966), Earthly Powers (1980), and Any Old Iron (1989)

Guy . 1911–63, British spy, who fled to the Soviet Union (with Donald Maclean) in 1951

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for burgess

c.1200, burgeis "citizen of a borough," from Old French borjois (Modern French bourgeois), from Late Latin burgensis (see bourgeois). Applied from late 15c. to borough representatives in Parliament and used later in Virginia and other colonies used to denote members of the legislative body, while in Pennsylvania, etc., it meant "member of the governing council of a borough."