comtesse

See also: cometesse and Comtesse

English

Etymology

From French comtesse.

Noun

comtesse (plural comtesses)

  1. A French countess.
    • 1830, Autobiography: A Collection of the Most Instructive and Amusing Lives Ever Published, Written by the Parties Themselves. [], volume XXIX (Madame du Barri), London: Whittaker, Treacher, and Arnot, [], pages 81–82:
      The king is impatient to see the comtesse, and I have promised that she will sup with him to-morrow evening in my apartment at Versailles.
    • 1982, Mary Jane Staples, Nurse Anna’s War, Corgi Books, published 2011, →ISBN, page 143:
      ‘Louise Victoria is a comtesse?’ murmured the major. [] You’ll agree, I think, Madame Dupont, that some young ladies are to be cherished, whether they’re comtesses or not?
    • 2009, Annaliese Evans, Night’s Rose, Tor Books, →ISBN, pages 18–19:
      “That is not fitting speech for a comtesse, not to mention highly unfashionable language for a young lady to use in mixed company.” [] “You have known many comtesses?” she asked, lowering her sword, sensing the threat from Gareth had passed . . . at least for now.

Coordinate terms

French

Etymology

From Middle French contese, contesse, from Old French contesce, contesse, cuntesse; equivalent to comte (earl) + -esse (-ess).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɔ̃.tɛs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛs
  • (file)

Noun

comtesse f (plural comtesses, masculine comte)

  1. countess

Descendants

  • Danish: komtesse
  • English: comtesse
  • Turkish: kontes

Further reading

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