Definition

1. Noun:
   • A nobleman ranking above a count and below a duke: A "marquis" is a title of nobility used in various European countries, particularly in the British peerage system where it ranks below a duke and above an earl or count.
   • A specific historical figure, Don Marquis (1878-1937): An American humorist, journalist, and author, best known for creating the characters "archy the cockroach" and "mehitabel the cat" in his satirical writings.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Title of Nobility):
  • The land was granted to the marquis by the king.
  • She was addressed as "My Lady" after her husband became a marquis.
• Noun (Historical Figure):
  • The writings of Marquis often featured humorous social commentary.
  • We studied a column by Don Marquis in our American literature class.

Advanced Usage

• "Marquis" vs. "Marquess": In the British peerage, "marquess" is the more common spelling for the title, while "marquis" is often used in other European contexts (e.g., France, Spain). However, they can be used interchangeably in many historical texts.
  • The French marquis had an estate in the countryside.
  • The Marquess of Salisbury was a prominent 19th-century politician.

Variants and Related Words

• Marchioness (n): The title for the wife or widow of a marquis/marquess, or a woman who holds the rank in her own right.
  • The marchioness presided over the charity event.
• Marquisate (n): The territory, rank, or dignity of a marquis.
  • He inherited the marquisate along with the title.

Synonyms

• Peer: A member of the nobility.
• Lord: A general title for a nobleman.

Related Phrases

• Marquis de Sade: A historical reference to Donatien Alphonse François, the French aristocrat and writer from whom the term "sadism" is derived. This is a proper noun, not a phrasal verb.
  • The works of the Marquis de Sade were controversial.

Related Idioms

(No common idioms are directly formed from the word "marquis" itself.)

Noun

1. nobleman (in various countries) ranking above a count
2. humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)