comitatus

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical: a band of warriors or nobles bound by loyalty to a ruler or military leader

   The chieftain rewarded the members of his comitatus with weapons and treasure.

2. 2
   noun

   historical Latin: a county or shire and, by extension, its assembled inhabitants or fighting force

   In the legal phrase posse comitatus, comitatus refers to the county and its people.

Borrowed unchanged from Latin comitatus, 'companionship, retinue, or county,' from comes, 'companion or attendant.' County is a doublet that reached English through Anglo-Norman French. The legal phrase posse comitatus literally names the force or power of the county.

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External links

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