(pl. -ies)
1- a territorial division of some countries, forming the chief unit of local administration郡; 县。
1.1
- treated as sing. or pl. the people of such a territorial division collectively, especially the leading families郡民; 县民（尤指世家）。
1.2
- Brit. a sporting team playing for such a territorial division〈英〉郡体育队; 县运动队。
1.3
- US a political and administrative division of a state〈美〉县（州的行政区划）。
- Brit. having the social status or characteristics of a county family〈英〉有世家地位（或特点）的：
a county grande dame
世家贵妇人。
词源
Middle English: from Old French conte, from Latin comitatus, from comes, comit- （see COUNT2 ）. The word seems earliest to have denoted a meeting held periodically to transact the business of a shire.