Count

Countee.

L. Fr. or Anglo- Norm. [Fr. comte; L. Lat. comes.'] In old English law. An officer who anciently was the chief or governor (prafectus vel prcepositus,) of a shire in England, which was hence called a county, {comitatus); an earl.

1 Bl. Com. 398. 9 Co. 49. 2 Lev. 72.

See Comes, Comte. This term {countee being obviously an Anglicised form of the Fr. comte,) was introduced on the Norman Conquest, as a title not only of office but of honor, being the most eminent dignity in the kingdom.

Termes de la ley

It was after a time, however, superseded by the English earl, which still continues as a title of honor, although the earl has now nothing to do with the government of the county, which is devolved on the sheriff or viscount, as he was anciently called, {vice comes, the vice count, or ear Fs deputy.) 1 Bl. Com. 398, 116. The term still survives in countess, an earl's wife, and viscount, the next dignity below an earl. See Earl, Comes, County, Viscount.