baronetcy
|ba-ron-et-cy|
/ˈbærənətsi/
hereditary rank below baron
Etymology
'baronetcy' originates from English, specifically from the noun 'baronet' plus the suffix '-cy', where 'baronet' originally meant 'a small or lesser baron' (a diminutive of 'baron').
'baronet' entered English from Old French 'baronnet', a diminutive of 'baron'; 'baron' itself comes via Old French from Late Latin or Germanic sources meaning 'man' or 'warrior'. The abstract noun 'baronetcy' developed in English to denote the office or rank.
Initially related to the idea of a 'little' or 'lesser' baron, the term came to denote a specific hereditary rank created in England (early 17th century) and now refers to that formal title or the dignity attached to it.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the rank, dignity, or status of a baronet; a hereditary title below a baron and above a knight.
He inherited the baronetcy when his father died.
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Noun 2
the title or office held by a baronet; sometimes used to refer collectively to baronets as a body.
The baronetcy dated back to the early 17th century.
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Last updated: 2026/01/18 04:39