altesse

highness (royal title)

noun al-TES Less Common

Origin: Italian altezza

Usage Note

Altesse is an honorific used when addressing or referring to royalty: Son Altesse Royale (His/Her Royal Highness). The word is always used with a possessive determiner in formal contexts (Votre Altesse, Son Altesse). Despite being feminine in form, it can refer to a male royal.

Examples

"Son Altesse est attendue à midi."

Natural Translation

His Highness is expected at noon.

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