noun
duchess
DUHT-shihs
noun
1
The wife or widow of a duke, or a woman who rules a duchy in her own right.
"The Duchess of Cambridge attended the charity gala."
How to Use Duchess
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe female equivalent of a duke, either by marriage or by birthright.
Word Forms
duchessed past tense, duchesses plural, duchesses singular
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The _____ of Cambridge attended the charity gala.
Etymology
From Old French duchesse, the feminine form of duc ("duke").