Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A nobleman ranking below an earl or count and above a baron.
- n. Used as a title for such a nobleman.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Formerly, an officer who acted as deputy of a count or earl in the management of the affairs of the county; the sheriff of a county.
- n. A degree or title of nobility next in rank below that of earl, and immediately above that of baron. It is the most recently established English title, having been first conferred by letters patent on John, sixth Baron Beaumont, by Henry VI., in 1440. In Great Britain the title is frequently attached to an earldom as a second title, and is by courtesy held by the eldest son during the lifetime of the father. The coronet of a viscount of England is composed of a circle of gold, chased, having on the edge twelve, fourteen, or sixteen pearls; the cap is of crimson velvet, turned up with ermine, and closed at the top with a rich tassel of gold. See cut under
coronet .
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. An officer who formerly supplied the place of the count, or earl; the sheriff of the county.
- n. A nobleman of the fourth rank, next in order below an earl and next above a baron; also, his degree or title of nobility. See Peer, n., 3.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a British peer who ranks below an earl and above a baron
- n. (in various countries) a son or younger brother or a count
Etymologies
- Middle English, from Old French visconte, from Medieval Latin vicecomes, vicecomit- : Late Latin vice-, vice- + Late Latin comes, occupant of any state office; see count2.
Examples
“Before we pull the rug out from under the Covingtons, Arthur especially, Terence needs to decide if he really wants the designation of viscount.”
“Thus the word viscount was in Latin vice-comes, in itself a terrible admission.”
“The viscount is not supposed to have been unrivalled in the young lady's favour.”
“But I held firm, and in the end I got a couple of old duchesses and something called a viscount (you don't pronounce the s, which I learned by putting my foot in my mouth) behind the one-way mirror.”
“The viscount is the one whose jewels you just stole.”
“The wife of a marquess is a marchioness, the wife of an earl is a countess earl is the British equivalent of count, the wife of a viscount is a viscountess, the wife of a baron is a baroness.”
Simon & Schuster: Essential Guide to Business Style and Usage
“Now the viscount was a right rich man: so had he a rich palace with a garden in face of it; in an upper chamber thereof he had Nicolette placed, with one old woman to keep her company, and in that chamber put bread and meat and wine and such, things as were needful.”
The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VII (of X)—Continental Europe I
“The viscount was the lion of the party, and his exclusive attention to the young heiress could not escape observation.”
“A regular poultry yard, of which the viscount was the peacock.”
“It is from no personal ill-feeling towards the viscount, that is all I can say, sir," replied Danglars, who resumed his insolent manner as soon as he perceived that Morcerf was a little softened and calmed down.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘viscount’.
-
Legislative Terms
US Congress/Senate + Westminster + European Parliament usage
unfinished business, third reading file, speaker pro tempore, voice vote, veto, upper house, urgency measure, unicameral, urgency clause, two-thirds vote, tombstone, third reading and 652 more...
-
Words with unusual spellings or pronunciations
Herein are listed words with oddball spellings and words whose pronunciation does not reflect the spelling.
eleemosynary, Wednesday, colonel, posslq, zaqqum, qwerty, cinquefoil, qibla(h), minuscule, Cholmondeley, polyphloisboian, ptisan and 67 more...
Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.