[mar.quess] or mar.quis n, pl mar.quess.es or mar.quis.es or mar.quis [ME marquis, markis, fr. MF marquis, alter. of marchis, fr. marche march] (14c) 1: a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe and Japan
2: a member of the British peerage ranking below a duke and above an earl -- mar.quess.ate or mar.quis.ate n