Main Entry: ¹coun·ty

Pronunciation: \ˈkau̇n-tē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural counties

Etymology: Middle English counte, from Anglo-French cunté, counté, from Medieval Latin comitatus, from Late Latin, office of a count, from comit-, comes count — more at count

Date: 14th century

1 : the domain of a count
2 a : one of the territorial divisions of England and Wales and formerly also of Scotland and Northern Ireland constituting the chief units for administrative, judicial, and political purposes b (1) : the people of a county (2) British : the gentry of a county
3 : the largest territorial division for local government within a state of the United States
4 : the largest local administrative unit in various countries

— county adjective