viscount
[vahy-kount]
- 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.
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Origin of viscount
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for viscount
Contemporary Examples
Viscount Mandeville, like many British aristocrats, had met her in the U.S. while “hunting” for an American wife.
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 ReignitedTom Sykes
December 1, 2014
From 1986 to 1995, the Viscount Althorp, as young Charles was then known, worked as a correspondent for NBC, most often for Today.
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 ExpatMichael Weiss
August 10, 2014
The four page boys listed in today's programme were Hugo Bertie, Viscount Aithrie, Charles Armstrong-Jones and Arthur Chatto.
Historical Examples
"I suppose you have heard from Viscount de la Choue," said she.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
She was the daughter of one Viscount and the sister of another.
The Market-PlaceHarold Frederic
And yet, what could Davis mean by passing him off as the Viscount?
Davenport Dunn, Volume 2 (of 2)Charles James Lever
All I say is, give me a Viscount for a son-in-law, and see if I don't 'work the oracle.'
Davenport Dunn, Volume 2 (of 2)Charles James Lever
This is the writ of summons calling him to the Lords as Viscount Lackington.
Davenport Dunn, Volume 2 (of 2)Charles James Lever
viscount
- (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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for viscount
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper