/ ˈkaʊntəs; NAmE ; -es/ noun
1.
a woman who has the rank of a count or an earl
2.
the wife of a count or an earl :
the Earl and Countess of Rosebery
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French contesse , from late Latin comitissa , feminine of comes , comit- companion, overseer, attendant (in late Latin person holding a state office), from com- together with + it- gone (from the verb ire go).