marquis

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marquis, marquess ruler (orig.) of a ‘march’ or frontier district; peer between the ranks of duke and earl XIV; † marchioness XVI–XVII. ME. marchis, markis — OF. marchis, alt. later to marquis after the corr. Pr. marques, Sp. marqués; f. Rom. *marca MARCH2 + *-ese :- L. -ēnsem -ESE; prop. adj. The sp. with -ess (XVI) is now used for the British title.
Hence marquisate XVI. So marquise kind of pear; † marquee. XVIII. — F., fem. of marquis.

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