MARQUIS

marquis, marquess

(noun) nobleman (in various countries) ranking above a count

Marquis, Don Marquis, Donald Robert Perry Marquis

(noun) humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

marquis (plural marquises or marquis)

A nobleman in England, France, and Germany, of a rank next below that of duke, but above a count. Originally, the marquis was an officer whose duty was to guard the marches or frontiers of the kingdom. The office has ceased, and the name is now a mere title conferred by letters patent or letters close.

Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Bassarona.

Source: Wiktionary


Mar"quis, n. Etym: [F. marquis, OF. markis, marchis, LL. marchensis; of German origin; cf. G. mark bound, border, march, OHG. marcha. See March border, and cf. Marchioness, Marquee, Marquess.]

Definition: A nobleman in England, France, and Germany, of a rank next below that of duke. Originally, the marquis was an officer whose duty was to guard the marches or frontiers of the kingdom. The office has ceased, and the name is now a mere title conferred by patent.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

28 November 2024

SYNCRETISM

(noun) the fusion of originally different inflected forms (resulting in a reduction in the use of inflections)


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.

coffee icon