feudatory

American  

[fyoo-duh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈfyu dəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

feudatories plural

1. a person who holds lands by feudal tenure; a feudal vassal.

2. a fief or fee.

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adjective

1. (of a kingdom or state) under the overlordship of another sovereign or state.

2. (of a feudal estate) holding or held by feudal tenure.

feudatory British  

/ -trɪ, ˈfjuːdətərɪ /

noun

1. a person holding a fief; vassal

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adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of the relationship between lord and vassal

2. (esp of a kingdom) under the overlordship of another sovereign

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• feudatories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of feudatory

1585–95; < Medieval Latin feudā ( tor ) fief-holder ( see feud ², -ator) + -tory ¹, -tory ² )

Example Sentences

"But Indore has been a powerful feudatory of the Raj," it said.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2025

Here he met a very large number of Indian feudatory princes, whose acquaintance he subsequently improved by visiting at their courts during the seventeen weeks which he spent in the country.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various

Bastar�, a feudatory State in Upper Godavari district, Central Provinces of India; area, 13,062 sq. miles; pop.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

This induced the Hirado feudatory to revoke the edict which he had issued against the Jesuits, and they were preparing to take advantage of his renewed hospitality when a Portuguese merchantman entered Hirado.

From A History of the Japanese People From the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era by Brinkley, F. (Frank)

He had, after he passed the Indus, led them through the deserts of Sind to the attack of a feudatory chief, who had established himself in the government of that province.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 13 by Rudd, John