noun
Freq #91537
Meanings
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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.
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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.
Thesaurus
Etymology
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.