feudatory

[fyoo-duh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

See more synonyms for feudatory on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural feu·da·to·ries.

a person who holds lands by feudal tenure; a feudal vassal.
a fief or fee.

adjective

(of a kingdom or state) under the overlordship of another sovereign or state.
(of a feudal estate) holding or held by feudal tenure.

Origin of feudatory

1585–95; < Medieval Latin feudā(tor) fief-holder (see feud², -ator) + -tory¹, -tory²)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for feudatory

householder, feudatory, landlady, mesne

Examples from the Web for feudatory

Historical Examples of feudatory

He will be, as of old, a feudatory of an avaricious Native monarch.
Lachmi Bai Rani of Jhansi
Michael White
They will become the feudatory vassals of the paramount States!
Thirty Years' View (Vol. I of 2)
Thomas Hart Benton
His position with regard to the Persian kings was that of a feudatory.
History of the Jews, Vol. II (of 6)
Heinrich Graetz
The King of Aragon held his kingdom as feudatory to the pope.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume II (of 2)
John William Draper
Although a feudatory of the Holy See, he was not a Roman, and he was a prince.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol IV. No. XX. January, 1852.
Various

British Dictionary definitions for feudatory

feudatory

noun

a person holding a fief; vassal

adjective

relating to or characteristic of the relationship between lord and vassal
(esp of a kingdom) under the overlordship of another sovereign

Word Origin for feudatory

C16: from Medieval Latin feudātor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012