countess
[koun-tis]
- the wife or widow of a count in the nobility of Continental Europe or of an earl in the British peerage.
- a woman having the rank of a count or earl in her own right.
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Origin of countess
Usage note
See -ess.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for countess
Contemporary Examples
Kate - known as the Countess of Strathearn when north of the border - wore £425 blue and grey coat by British label Moloh.
Just look at their company: Countess LuAnn, Steve Harvey, Jessica Seinfeld, Paris Hilton.
Also present were Andrew and his daughter Princess Beatrice, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
The Royal visit by the Earl and Countess of Wessex to the territory raised tensions in Spain.
The Countess deftly steered the lifeboat, a resolute and unlikely vision in her ermine and pearls.
Historical Examples
To forget her friends that she might go into society a countess!
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Now, don't worry about it any more—I expect it was the Countess told you that.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
The Countess had worked hard all her life, and her hands were red and big-jointed.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
"Well, I do think it's awfully good, Dell," began the Countess.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
"I just know he'll choose Bill," crowed the Countess after the flicker of the doctor's skirts.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
countess
- the wife or widow of a count or earl
- a woman of the rank of count or earl
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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 countess
n.
mid-12c., adopted in Anglo-French for "the wife of an earl," from Medieval Latin cometissa, fem. of Latin comes "count" (see count (n.)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper