marquess
n. countablen. a high-ranking nobleman in some European countries. This title is below a duke but above an earl.
n. a nobleman of the rank immediately below a duke and above an earl. Primarily used in the United Kingdom and France; the title is largely obsolete in modern contexts.
The marquess hosted a grand party at his estate.
In the nineteenth century, the local marquess held significant political power over the surrounding rural districts.
The historical novel details the rise of a young marquess who navigated the complex social hierarchies of the court to secure his family's legacy.
See marquis for etymology. Note also that marquess is very unusual in the English language in that it ends in -ess but is a masculine term. The title is granted only to males (the female equivalent is marchioness).