Feminine of Nouns starting with 'E'

The feminine of Earl is Countess.

Rule: This is a unique case in the English nobility. "Earl" is a British title derived from Old English. It does not have a direct feminine form like "Earless." Instead, the system borrowed the feminine term "Countess" from the equivalent continental European title "Count."

Definitions:

• An Earl is a British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquis.
• A Countess is the wife or widow of an earl (or count), or a woman holding that rank in her own right.

Example:

• The Earl and Countess of Wessex attended the state dinner.

The feminine of Emperor is Empress.

Rule: This is an irregular formation using the suffix "-ess" where the masculine ending is dropped.

Definitions:

• An Emperor is the sovereign male ruler of an empire.
• An Empress is a female ruler of an empire in her own right, or the wife/widow of an emperor.

Example:

• The Emperor and Empress of Japan greeted the foreign dignitaries.

The feminine of Enchanter is Enchantress.

Rule: This is formed by removing the final 'er' from the masculine form and adding the suffix "-ess".

Definitions:

• An Enchanter is a man who uses magic or enchantment; a sorcerer or wizard.
• An Enchantress is a woman who uses magic or enchantment; a sorceress or witch, often implying allure or charm.

Example:

• In the fairy tale, the evil enchanter was defeated by a powerful enchantress.

The feminine of Executor is Executrix.

Rule: This is formed by replacing the "-or" ending with the suffix "-trix".

Definitions and Usage:

• An Executor is a person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of their will.
• An Executrix is a female executor.

While "executrix" is still the correct legal term and used in formal documents, the term "executor" is increasingly used as a common gender title in modern legal practice to refer to any person performing this role.

The traditional feminine of Editor is Editress. However, this term is now considered archaic and is almost never used.

Modern Usage: Editor is a common gender noun, used for any person who edits written material, video, or other media, regardless of gender.

Example:

• She is the senior editor at the publishing house.

There is no feminine equivalent for the title Esquire.

Usage: "Esquire" (often abbreviated as Esq.) is a historical title of respect. In the United States, it is most commonly used as a professional title by lawyers (both male and female) after their name. In this context, it is treated as a gender-neutral honorific.

Example:

• Jane Smith, Esq., represented the client in court.

The noun Ewe is already a feminine noun. Its masculine counterpart is Ram.

Rule: This is a pair of different words for the male and female of a species (sheep).

Definitions:

• A Ram is an adult male sheep.
• A Ewe is an adult female sheep.

Example:

• The farmer separated the rams from the ewes before winter.

The noun Elephant is a common gender term. To specify the gender, the terms are:

• Masculine: Bull or Bull Elephant
• Feminine: Cow or Cow Elephant

Example:

• A bull elephant is typically larger than a cow elephant.