viscount

[ vahy-kount ]

/ ˈvaɪˌkaʊnt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR viscount ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a nobleman next below an earl or count and next above a baron.

History/Historical. a deputy of a count or earl.

(in England) a sheriff.

Nearby words

Origin of viscount

1350–1400; Middle English viscounte < Anglo-French; Old French visconte (French vicomte), equivalent to vis vice³ + counte count², translation Medieval Latin vicecomes

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for viscount

Viscount Mandeville, like many British aristocrats, had met her in the U.S. while “hunting” for an American wife.
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain|Tim Teeman|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At no time during the shoot was Viscount Severn directly in front of the Earl of Wessex.
Prince Charles Photographed Shooting, Charges of Animal Cruelty and Royal Hypocrisy Reignited|Tom Sykes|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From 1986 to 1995, the Viscount Althorp, as young Charles was then known, worked as a correspondent for NBC, most often for Today.
NBC’s Today Show ‘Hires’ Pippa Middleton|Lloyd Grove, Tom Sykes|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her father was a Viscount, so Taylor married into the Catalan aristocracy.
Whit Stillman on the 20th Anniversary of ‘Barcelona’, His New Amazon Series, and the Myth of the Ugly Expat|Michael Weiss|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The four page boys listed in today's programme were Hugo Bertie, Viscount Aithrie, Charles Armstrong-Jones and Arthur Chatto.
Thump! Audible Crash As Queen's Page Boy Collapses At Opening of Parliament|Tom Sykes|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"The viscount said you were wonderfully well read in such matters," de Lisle said.
Won by the Sword|G.A. Henty
Jean, who had run in, took the viscount's hand from Christie.
Christie Johnstone|Charles Reade
Was addressed to Viscount Molesworth, a distinguished Whig; and the author of several works written in a patriotic spirit.
Ireland in the Days of Dean Swift|Jonathan Swift and J. Bowles (John Bowles) Daly
He was styled Viscount Royston from 1754 till 1764, when he succeeded to the earldom.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8|Various
"So far as that was concerned, I believe I did all I could do to repair the mischief," continued the viscount.
Across India|Oliver Optic

British Dictionary definitions for viscount

viscount

/ (ˈvaɪkaʊnt) /

noun

(in the British Isles) a nobleman ranking below an earl and above a baron

(in various countries) a son or younger brother of a countSee also vicomte

(in medieval Europe) the deputy of a count

Word Origin for viscount

C14: from Old French visconte, from Medieval Latin vicecomes, from Late Latin vice- vice ³ + comes count 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

Word Origin and History for viscount

viscount

late 14c., "deputy of a count or earl," from Anglo-French and Old French visconte, from Medieval Latin vicecomes (genitive vicecomitis), from Late Latin vice- "deputy" (see vice-) + Latin comes "member of an imperial court, nobleman" (see count (n.)). As a rank in British peerage, first recorded 1440, when John, Baron Beaumont, was made one by Henry VI.

viscount

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of viscount

Examples from the Web for viscount

viscount

noun

Word Origin for viscount

viscount