marchioness
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌmɑrʃəˈnɛs/
:
marquesa
- "Come inside, Signorina Crispino, do," the Marchioness commanded, taking Allegra's hand in hers.
- Marquess and Marchioness
Examples
-
The Marchioness was tall and reed-slim, and her beautiful, pale-complexioned, heart-shaped face was animated by a lovely pair of slanted, lively sherry eyes.
Fiction book (1991) -
" Exactly like your sister, Patsy, my love," the Marchioness answered, not sounding in the least upset.
Fiction book (1991) -
And is that what you call it now, my fine Marchioness?
Fiction book (1991) -
But the Marchioness was not content to merely dress her young guest in fine feathers.
Fiction book (1991) -
Her first season as a married woman, as the marchioness of Daventry.
Fiction book (2000) -
Until the Marchioness smiled, that is.
Fiction book (1991) -
For the Lady Tewkesbury, Marchioness of Basilwether.
-
Charlotte Victor Dagenham, Marchioness of Daventry.
Fiction book (2000) -
"Oh, yes," Burnell replied smoothly, following after Daventry, his cool blue gaze still on the marchioness.
Fiction book (2000) -
The marchioness hosted a grand ball at her estate to celebrate her husband's promotion.
Synonyms
2
5.8
A woman from a high social class who has a title
1
9.9
A woman of high social rank below a duchess and above a countess
A woman from Italy with a noble title, often the wife or widow of a marquis
Surface Forms
Morphology
marchioness = marquess (semi-transparent) = marchion + ess
The word is the feminine form of the title (marquess/marquis) formed with the suffix '-ess', but the internal form change (marquess → marchion-) is irregular and may obscure the relation for learners.
Etymology
The word marchioness comes from the title marquis, which comes from an old word for a border area, a march, meaning 'border'. A marchioness was originally a woman who ruled, or who was married to the ruler, of those border lands, so the title today means a high noble rank.