margrave

American  

[mahr-grayv] / 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

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

margrave

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

The father of all virtue in that good margrave died.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

Woe's me," began the margrave, "That ever I was born, That none can stay the sorrows of this disastrous morn!

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

XXI To meet his wife, the margrave rode forward from the queen.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

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