margrave

American  

[mahr-greyv] / ˈmɑr greɪv /

noun

1. (formerly) the hereditary title of the rulers of certain European states.

2. History/Historical. a hereditary German title, equivalent to marquis.

3. (originally) a military governor of a German mark, or border province.

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margrave British  

/ ˈmɑːˌɡreɪv /

noun

1. 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

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Other Word Forms

• margravial adjective

Etymology

Origin of margrave

1545–55; earlier marcgrave < Middle Dutch, equivalent to marke border (cognate with march ² ) + grave count (cognate with reeve ¹ ); compare German Markgraf

Example Sentences

The elector Philip of Hesse followed suit, as did the margrave of Brandenburg, the dukes of Schleswig and Brunswick, and many smaller potentates of the empire.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2014

The margrave would not tarry, but ever on would speed.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

Grave, grāv, n. a count, prefect, a person holding office, as in landgrave, margrave, burgrave, &c.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Thereto gave the good margrave th' assurance of his hand.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

Prohibition by the margrave, about the end of the thirteenth century, of the exportation of woolen yarn.

From Principles of Political Economy, Vol. II by Roscher, Wilhelm