noun · formal
earldom
UK/ˈɜːl.dəm/US/ˈɝːl.dəm/EARL·dom
Band 5-6task2speaking
the rank, title, or territory of an earl (a noble rank), or the condition of being an earl
Examples
“He gained the earldom after his father retired from public duties.”
“Many earldoms were reorganised in the constitutional changes.”
“The family lost its earldom following the succession crisis.”
Band 8 sentence
“The redistribution of land led to the abolition of several earldoms as central authority consolidated.”
Collocations
- inherit an earldom
- lose an earldom
- the earldom of X
Word family
earldom nounearldoms noun (plural)
Common mistakes
earl→earldom
county→earldom
Say it for a higher band
5title→6county→7+earldom
Synonyms
countship
Easily confused
countship
“After the treaty, the countship was absorbed into the neighbouring state.”
Related words
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In -dom
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