marchioness

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the wife or widow of a marquess

   The marchioness hosted the reception at the family estate.

2. 2
   noun

   a woman who holds the rank of marquess in her own right

   She inherited the title and became marchioness in her own right.

From Medieval Latin marchionissa, the feminine of marchio, 'ruler of a border territory,' ultimately related to mark or march, 'boundary.' In the British peerage a marchioness ranks below a duchess and above a countess.

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