* Noun: It's a title of nobility, usually a hereditary one.
* Example: "The Earl of Wessex is a member of the royal family."
* Proper noun: It's also a common name.
* Example: "Earl is a great friend of mine."
* Adjective: In some contexts, it can be used as an adjective to describe something related to an earl or the rank of earl.
* Example: "The earl's coat of arms was displayed proudly." (The word "earl's" is a possessive form of the noun "earl" functioning as an adjective.)
So, the part of speech depends on its context and usage in the sentence.