contessa

[kawn-tes-sah, kuhn-tes-uh]

noun

Italian.

plural

contesse ,

plural

contessas .

1. countess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of contessa¹

First recorded in 1815–20;

Example Sentences

Had Violet signed the marriage contract with her right hand, the law would have made her a miserable contessa, but because she signed it with her left, she remained, to her relief, a miserable orphan.

From Literature

I had seen Chloe Marsh earlier in the day—very pretty, with a face shaped like a soft heart and with a delicate nose and lips like a contessa in a Renaissance portrait.

From Literature

And the clerks treat even commoners like contessas.

From New York Times

The consequence of this recital was that Podstadsky's young acquaintances were clamorous for presentation to la contessa.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• czar 
• emperor 
• king 
• monarch 
• shah 
• sultan