viscountess

American  

[vahy-koun-tis] / ˈvaɪˌkaʊn tɪs /

noun

1. the wife or widow of a viscount.

2. a woman holding in her own right a rank equivalent to that of a viscount.

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viscountess British  

/ ˈvaɪkaʊntɪs /

noun

1. the wife or widow of a viscount

2. a woman who holds the rank of viscount in her own right

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Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of viscountess

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at viscount, -ess