Obs. Also countie, countee. [app. an adoption of AF. counte, or OF. and It. conte, with unusual retention of final vowel, confused in form with COUNTY1.]. = COUNT sb.2
1550. J. Coke, Eng. & Fr. Heralds, § 68 (1877), 80. Monster de Labright, countie de Foyx.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1594), 230. Iohn, countie of Arminack.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. ii. 49. Than is there the Countie Palentine.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 29. Raymund countie of POITOV.
1671. Brydall, Law Nobility (1675), 9. And those which of antient time were created Countees, or Earls.
1814. Cary, Dante, Purg., XIV. 120. Who care to propagate A race of Counties from such blood as theirs.
1848. Wharton, Law Lex., Countee or Count, the most eminent dignity of a subject before the conquest.
