county

I. noun (plural counties) Etymology: Middle English counte, from Anglo-French cunté, counté, from Medieval Latin comitatus, from Late Latin, office of a count, from comit-, comes count — more at count Date: 14th century 1. the domain of a count 2. a. one of the territorial divisions of England and Wales and formerly also of Scotland and Northern Ireland constituting the chief units for administrative, judicial, and political purposes b. (1) the people of a county (2) British the gentry of a county 3. the largest territorial division for local government within a state of the United States 4. the largest local administrative unit in various countries • county adjective II. noun (plural counties) Etymology: modification of Middle French comte Date: 1550 archaic count III