Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒuntes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒuntes(se n. Also contas(se, -eise, -esse, countas(se, -isse, cuntasse, -es(se, cometas, comytiss. Pl. countesses, counteis, cuntas. |
| Etymology | AF; CF contesse, ML cometissa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The wife of a count or an earl; also, the female heir of an earl (a countess in her own right); (b) the wife of a nobleman in ancient times; (c) a viscountess; (d) as a surname.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1140 : Þe kynges dohter..nu wæs cuntesse in Angou.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)8/93 : As doð þes cwenes, þes riche cuntasses, þeos modie leafdis of hare liflade.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7625 : Constance þe oþer was, of brutayne contesse [vrr. contasse, Countasse], þe erles wif.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10500 : Þe contesse isabel, þat þerl mareschales douȝter was, To gileberd erl of gloucestre ispoused was.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2445 : Sike he was in eueriche bon For loue of þe cuntasse.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1700 : Quens and cuntas [Cai: Contasses] him haþ of-sent.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)117/622 : Þo was þe douke..brouȝt to þe conteise sone.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.355 : He..made hym monk..by assent of þe contasse [vr. contas; L comitissa] Adelisa.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.590 : To his suster deere, That thilke tyme of Panyk was countesse [vr. cuntesse], He sholde it take.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.189 : Countas [F Countasse] of Marche was sche.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6860 : Thise queenes and eke countesses [F contesses]..Uncounceiled goth ther noon fro me.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)15b/b : Comitissa: a contesse.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)488 : Wostow..wher this be..queen or countesse?
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3045 : The cowntas..Knelis down in þe kyrnelles.
- (1447) in Mullinger Cambridge 1314 : Two noble and devoute contesses of Pembroke and of Clare founded two collages.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)65 : He gat vpon þe countas Twoo knaue-chyldren dere.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)221 : Prince Edward weddid Jone, the cuntesse of Kent.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)29a : A Cowntysse: Comitissa.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)269 : The Countes of Salamere was his godmoder.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)691/36 : Hec comitissa: a comytiss.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)792/6 : Hec cometissa, anglice, a cometas.
b
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)798 : Furst she [Helen] was queene and Emperesse, And now she is but a Countesse [vr. countes].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4414 : They come doun..And other ek that callyd were contessys.
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)765 : Alisaunder..ladde..mony contasses [Hrl: Counteys] and ladyes.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)195/1362 : Thenne com þe cowntes, syr Ectors wyf.
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)69a/b : Vicecometissa: a cuntes.
d
- (1322) Pat.R.Edw.II154 : William Countesse.
- (1323) Pat.R.Edw.II285 : Alice la Countasse.