Coun"ty (koun"t?), n.; pl. Counties (-t&?;z). [F.
comt&?;, fr. LL. comitatus. See Count.]
1. An earldom; the domain of
a count or earl. [Obs.]
2. A circuit or
particular portion of a state or kingdom, separated from the rest
of the territory, for certain purposes in the administration of justice and public affairs; -- called also a shire. See Shire.
Every county, every town, every family, was in agitation.
Macaulay.
3. A count; an earl or lord. [Obs.] Shak.
County commissioners. See
Commissioner. -- County corporate,
a city or
town having the privilege to be a county by itself, and to be governed by
its own sheriffs and other magistrates, irrespective of the officers of the county in
which it is
situated; as London, York, Bristol, etc. [Eng.] Mozley & W. -- County court, a court whose jurisdiction is limited to county. -- County palatine, a county distinguished by particular privileges; --
so called a palatio (from the palace), because the owner had
originally royal powers,
or the same
powers, in the administration of justice, as the king had
in his palace; but these powers are now abridged. The counties palatine, in England, are Lancaster, Chester, and Durham. -- County
rates, rates levied upon the county, and collected by the boards of
guardians, for the purpose of defraying the expenses to which counties are liable, such as repairing bridges, jails, etc. [Eng.] -- County seat, a county town. [U.S.]
-- County sessions, the general quarter sessions of the peace for
each county, held four times a year. [Eng.] -- County town, the town of a county, where the county business is transacted; a shire town.
Hear it pronounced