/ ˈbærənəs; NAmE ˌbærəˈnes/ noun
1.
a woman who has the same rank as a baron . In Britain, baronesses use the title Lady or Baroness :
Baroness Thatcher
2.
the wife of a baron
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French baronesse , from baron , from medieval Latin baro , baron- man, warrior, probably of Germanic origin.