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Count |
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countor earlEuropean title of nobility, ranking in modern times directly below a marquess or (in countries without marquesses) a duke. In England the title of earl is the equivalent of count and ranks above a viscount. The wife of a count or earl is a countess. The Roman comes (“count”) was originally a household companion of the emperor; under the Franks he was a local commander and judge. The counts were later incorporated into the feudal structure, some becoming subordinate to dukes, though a few countships were as great as duchies. As royal authority was reasserted over the feudatories, which took place at different times in the different kingdoms, the counts lost their political authority, though they retained their privileges as members of the nobility. count1 1. the act of counting or reckoning 2. the number reached by counting; sum 3. Law a paragraph in an indictment containing a distinct and separate charge 4. Physics the total number of photons or ionized particles detected by a counter 5. Boxing Wrestling the act of telling off a number of seconds by the referee, as when a boxer has been knocked down or a wrestler pinned by his opponent 6. out for the count Boxing knocked out and unable to continue after a count of ten by the referee 7. take the count Boxing to be unable to continue after a count of ten count2 1. a nobleman in any of various European countries having a rank corresponding to that of a British earl 2. any of various officials in the late Roman Empire and under various Germanic kings in the early Middle Ages 3. a man who has received an honour (papal knighthood) from the Pope in recognition of good deeds, achievements, etc. count [kau̇nt] (aerospace engineering) To proceed from one point to another in a countdown or plus count, normally by calling a number to signify the point reached. To proceed in a countdown, for example, T minus 90 and counting. (chemistry) An ionizing event. (design engineering) The number of openings per linear inch in a wire cloth. (mathematics) To name a set of consecutive positive integers in order of size, usually starting with 1. To associate consecutive positive integers, starting with 1, with the members of a finite set in order to determine the cardinal number of the set. (nucleonics) A single response of the counting system in a radiation counter. The total number of events indicated by a counter. (textiles) The number of warp and filling threads per square inch of fabric. count In wire cloth, the number of openings per linear inch. Count (Russian, graf; from German Graf), in Western Europe during the early Middle Ages, a royal servitor. Beginning in the second half of the sixth century, a count in the Frankish state possessed his own district—the county—with judicial, administrative, and military authority. Gradually the post of count became hereditary. In the period of feudal disintegration, the count was a feudal sovereign; then, at the end of this period, he became a high aristocrat. The title of count is maintained to this day in most European countries with a monarchical form of government. In Russia the title of graf was introduced in the 18th century by Peter I and was abolished in 1917. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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