[coun.ty] n, pl counties [ME counte, fr. MF conte, fr. ML comitatus, fr. LL, office of a count, fr. comit-, comes count--more at count] (14c) 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) Brit: the gentry of a county
3: the largest territorial division for local government within a state of the U.S.
4: the largest local administrative unit in various countries -- county adj
[2]county n, pl counties [modif. of MF comte] (1550) archaic: [3]count