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definitions

marchioness

[mahr-shuh-nis, mahr-shuh-nes]
noun British.
  1. marquise(defs 1, 2).

Origin of marchioness

1770–80; < Medieval Latin marchiōnissa, equivalent to marchiōn- (stem of marchiō) marquis + -issa -ess

Usage note

See -ess.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for marchioness

Historical Examples of marchioness

  • As this marriage was null and void, there was no Marchioness of Morella.

    Fair Margaret

    H. Rider Haggard

  • Their Majesties would notice also that it was in favour of the Marchioness of Morella.

    Fair Margaret

    H. Rider Haggard

  • Don't talk back to me: my daughter will be a marchioness in spite of everyone.

  • They were opposed by the Marchioness of Salisbury, whom the Tories brought forward.

  • Amelia is so massive and square; if the girl's so small she'd look like 'the Marchioness.'

    Jan and Her Job

    L. Allen Harker

British Dictionary definitions for marchioness

marchioness

noun
  1. the wife or widow of a marquis
  2. a woman who holds the rank of marquis

Word Origin for marchioness

C16: from Medieval Latin marchionissa, feminine of marchiō marquis
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 marchioness
n.

16c., from Medieval Latin marchionissa, fem. of marchio "marquis," from marca (see marquis (n.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper