Main Entry: mar·quess

Pronunciation: \ˈmär-kwəs\

Variant(s): or mar·quis \ˈmär-kwəs, mär-ˈkē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural mar·quess·es or mar·quis·es \-kwə-səz\ or mar·quis \-ˈkē(z)\

Etymology: Middle English marquis, markis, from Anglo-French marquys, markys, from marche march

Date: 14th century

1 : a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe and Japan
2 : a member of the British peerage ranking below a duke and above an earl

— mar·quess·ate \ˈmär-kwə-sət\ or mar·quis·ate \ˈmär-kwə-zət, -sət\ noun