earl
gb/ˈɚl/ us/ˈɚl/
B2
English
~ 8000
gróf, jarl, főúr
NOUN
B2
1
gróf
B1
Usage pattern:
the earl of [place]
The earl of Warwick played a key role in English history.
Warwick grófja fontos szerepet játszott az angol történelemben.
An old portrait of the earl hangs in the great hall of the castle.
A kastély nagytermében a gróf régi portréja függ.
In the story, a young woman falls in love with an earl.
The title of earl passed to his eldest son after his death.
Several earls attended the royal ceremony at the palace.
Learner examples
The earl of that town lives in a big house.
Annak a városnak a grófja egy nagy házban él.
She read a book about an earl and a countess.
Egy grófról és egy grófnőről olvasott könyvet.
The old earl is very rich and powerful.
An earl is a high noble in Britain.
The earl and his family went to see the king.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'earl' with the personal name 'Earl', which is capitalized and used as a first name. Some also think 'earl' means any rich man, but it is specifically a formal noble title in the British system. In many European countries the similar rank is called 'count', but in Britain the correct term is 'earl'.
Meaning
British nobleman of a specific rank
Collocations
earl of Warwick
|powerful earl
|English earl
|medieval earl
|title of earl
|earl and countess
Synonyms
nobleman (General term for a man of high social rank; not specific to the rank of earl.)
|
count (Roughly equivalent noble rank in many European countries; usually not used for the British system, where the title is 'earl'.)
Antonyms
commoner (A person without any noble title, the opposite of someone holding a rank such as earl.)
Themes
society
|history
|politics
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A man who has a high noble title in Britain, below a marquess and above a viscount, often called the earl of a place.
A male member of the British nobility whose rank is below a marquess and above a viscount, traditionally linked to a particular title and often to a historical area.
NOUN
C1
ARCHAIC
2
In the saga, the earl led his warriors across the sea to raid distant shores.
A sagában a jarl a tengeren át vezette harcosait, hogy távoli partokat fosztogassanak.
The king rewarded the loyal earl with more land and treasure.
A hűséges jarl több földet és kincset kapott jutalmul a királytól.
Several earls gathered in the hall to swear their oaths of loyalty.
The poem describes an earl who falls bravely in battle defending his lord.
Archaeologists discovered a rich grave they believe belonged to a Viking earl.
Learner examples
In this old story, an earl leads many warriors.
Ebben a régi történetben egy jarl sok harcost vezet.
The earl serves the king and fights in war.
A jarl a királyt szolgálja, és háborúban harcol.
In early England, an earl was a very important man.
The young earl became famous after the battle.
They read about a brave earl in history class.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is historical and think it is the same as the modern British title. In many textbooks and translations of old poems, 'earl' is used for Old English or Norse titles, which do not exactly match the later British rank system.
Meaning
early medieval noble or chief
Collocations
Anglo-Saxon earl
|Viking earl
|loyal earl
|warrior earl
|earl and his thanes
|power of the earl
Synonyms
chieftain (Emphasizes leadership over a group or tribe rather than a formal rank in a peerage system.)
Antonyms
peasant (Refers to a poor farmer of low social rank, opposite in status to a powerful medieval earl.)
Themes
history
|warfare
|literature
|politics
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In old English and Scandinavian history, an important noble or war leader who ruled an area for the king.
In early medieval England or Scandinavia, a high-ranking noble or military leader, often governing a region on behalf of a king.
Grammar
Dictionary form
earl
IPA
GB/ˈɚl/
US/ˈɚl/
Syllables & stress
earl (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (earl)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: earl
- Plural: earls
Word family
Expressions
Earl Grey
1/ˈɚl ɡɹˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
a kind of flavored black tea
A kind of black tea with a strong smell and taste from bergamot, a citrus fruit.
Examples
- She ordered a pot of Earl Grey with milk.
- I usually drink coffee in the morning but like Earl Grey in the afternoon.
- He opened a tin of Earl Grey and the whole kitchen smelled of bergamot.