duchess

[duhch-is]

noun

1. the wife or widow of a duke.

2. a woman who holds in her own right the sovereignty or titles of a duchy.

duchess

/ ˈdʌtʃɪs /

noun

1. the wife or widow of a duke

2. a woman who holds the rank of duke in her own right

verb

1. informal,  to overwhelm with flattering attention

Gender Note

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

• duchesslike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of duchess¹

1300–50; Middle English duchesse < Anglo-French, Old French, feminine derivative of duc duke; -ess

Word History and Origins

Origin of duchess¹

C14: from Old French duchesse, feminine of duc _duke

Example Sentences

Behaving like an duchess while living in a suburb, Bucket's monstrous social-climbing schemes were ultimately doomed to failure - while she battled to maintain her dignity.

From BBC

A spokesperson for the duchess said it was written to counter Epstein's threat to sue for defamation, and that she regretted any association with him.

From BBC

There have already been claims that the King and the Royal Family will exclude the duchess from even more public gatherings.

From BBC

A spokesperson for the duchess - the former wife of the Prince Andrew, the Duke of York - said the email was to counter a threat Epstein had made to sue her for defamation.

From BBC

The Sun and the Mail on Sunday reported that the email from 2011 was sent weeks after the duchess had publicly distanced herself from the disgraced financier.

From BBC

Related Words

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