margrave

[ mahr-greyv ]
/ ˈmɑr greɪv /

noun

(formerly) the hereditary title of the rulers of certain European states.
History/Historical. a hereditary German title, equivalent to marquis.
(originally) a military governor of a German mark, or border province.

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Origin of margrave

1545–55; earlier marcgrave<Middle Dutch, equivalent to marke border (cognate with march2) + grave count (cognate with reeve1); compare German Markgraf

OTHER WORDS FROM margrave

mar·gra·vi·al, adjective

Words nearby margrave

marginoplasty, margin plank, margosa, Margot, margravate, margrave, margravine, Margrethe II, marguerite, Margulies, mar-hawk
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for margrave

British Dictionary definitions for margrave

margrave
/ (ˈmɑːˌɡreɪv) /

noun

a German nobleman ranking above a count. Margraves were originally counts appointed to govern frontier provinces, but all had become princes of the Holy Roman Empire by the 12th century

Word Origin for margrave

C16: from Middle Dutch markgrave, literally: count of the march ²
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