County
/ˈkaʊnti/noun
A territorial division of a country, or the people and officials governing it.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *comes* (“companion”), a court title that became a noble office, so a modern county is literally tied to an ancient chain of loyalty and authority.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
comes
“companion; later, a high-ranking imperial official”
Late Latin
Late Latin
comitatus
“the office or jurisdiction of a count; a retinue or district”
Old French
Old French
conté / cunté
“a count’s jurisdiction; a county”
Middle English
English
counté / county
“a territorial division governed by a count or earl”
Modern English
English
county
“an administrative territorial district”