countess

noun

count·​ess ˈkau̇n-təs How to pronounce countess (audio)
1
: the wife or widow of an earl or count
2
: a woman who holds in her own right the rank of earl or count

Examples of countess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Then one day, a countess checks in wearing a green parrot and promises to tell Marta seven stories. Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024 Available to stream on AMC+ AMC+ A Bay of Blood (1971) Also known by its alternate title Twitch of the Death Nerve, the film centers on the murder of a wealthy countess by her own husband, which sets off a string of murders in the surrounding area. Meagan Navarro, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024 After announcing his divorce from his third wife, Countess Karen Spencer, in June, news broke this week that Spencer’s current partner, Dr. Cat Jarman, was suing the countess, alleging misuse of private information, according to reports. Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024 Another story took him to a private cruise ship for the ultra-rich, which serves in the novel as a home for Campbell’s mother-in-law, a countess. Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for countess 

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of countess was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near countess

Cite this Entry

“Countess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/countess. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

countess

noun
count·​ess ˈkau̇nt-əs How to pronounce countess (audio)
1
: the wife or widow of a count or an earl
2
: a woman holding the rank of count or earl
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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