noun
marquise
mah-KEEZ
noun
1
The wife of a marquis, or a woman holding the rank in her own right, especially in France.
"The marquise hosted a lavish ball at her château."
2
A gem cut into an oval shape with two pointed ends.
"Her engagement ring featured a marquise-cut diamond."
How to Use Marquise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the female equivalent of a marquis, or a distinctive pointed-oval gemstone cut.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
marquise-cut diamond
a French marquise
Word Forms
marquises plural
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The _____ hosted a lavish ball at her château.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from French, the feminine form of marquis.