count palatine

American  

noun

counts palatine plural

1. (formerly, in Germany) a count having jurisdiction in his fief or province.

2. Also called earl palatine.  English History. an earl or other county proprietor who exercised royal prerogatives within his county.

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count palatine British  

noun

1. 1. originally an official who administered the king's domains or his justice

   2. later, a count who exercised royal authority in his own domains

2. (in England and Ireland) an earl or other lord of a county palatine

3. (in the late Roman Empire) a palace official who exercised judicial authority

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• counts palatine
  plural

Etymology

Origin of count palatine

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

count palatine

The book was spectacularly ill timed, although it earned Apian a position as court astronomer to Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire and eventually the title of imperial count palatine.

From New York Times ● Jun. 12, 2014

All the country between the Tees and the Tyne was held by the Bishop of Durham; and he was reputed a count palatine, having a separate government.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 05 (From Charlemagne to Frederick Barbarossa) by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)

About this time he received from his brother Louis the Saxon palatinate, over which he strengthened his authority by marrying Sophia, sister of Adalbert, count of Sommerschenburg, a former count palatine.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various

However, in 1647 his title was formally admitted by Wolfgang, count palatine of Neuburg.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various

Having married Gertrude, the widow of Henry the Proud, he was invested in 1143 with the duchy of Bavaria, and resigned his office as count palatine.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1 "Austria, Lower" to "Bacon" by Various