Comitatus

See' County, Power of.

/. A county, shire; an earldom; the county court; a suite or body of attendants, v. Posse. Commandite /r. Special or limited partnership.

Lat. A county or shire. So called from the comes, or earl, who formerly had the government of it, as county is derived from the Fr. comte, count, denoting the same officer. 1 Bi. Com. 116, a»8. Co. Litt. 168 a. Spelman^ voc. Comdtes. See Comes* An earldom. Bract. Ibl. 84. Still so called in Latin, although an earl has no territorial authority as u>rmerly. Co, Litt. 83 b. 1 Ld. Baywk 13. The county court, called among the Saxons scyre gemote; the mallum or placitusn of the early contuiental nations. Magna Charta, c. 36. Crabb's Hist. Eng. Law, 47, 146. Anoiesily a court of great dignity, and called by S^elmdia forum pkheia justitice, et theatrum comitivce potestatis; the tribunal of common justice, and the seat of the power of the county. Spelman, voce. Comites, Comitatus. 3 Bl. Com. 36. A train or body of companions, followers, or attendants; Ikerally a following, or attendance; a prince's court or household. Spehnan, ub. sup^ In the Roman law, the retinue of the governor of a province. Adam's Eom, Ant. 171. COM£CES« [pi. of comesi q. v.] Cornpamons, attendants or followers; retainers or adherents. 1 BL Com. 254. 1 Steph, Com, 161. Spelman, voc. Comites. Esprit des Lois, liv. 30, c. 16. Earls or counts. Magna, Char Uiy c. 14. Bract, fol. 5 b. See Comes.

a county. Most of the states are divided into counties; some, as Louisiana, are divided into ‘parishes.