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subinfeudation

American  
[suhb-in-fyoo-dey-shuhn] / ˌsʌb ɪn fyuˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

Feudal Law.
  1. the granting of a portion of an estate by a feudal tenant to a subtenant, held from the tenant on terms similar to those of the grant to the tenant.

  2. the tenure established.

  3. the estate or fief so created.


subinfeudation British  
/ ˌsʌbɪnfjʊˈdeɪʃən /

noun

  1. (in feudal society) the granting of land by a vassal to another man who became his vassal

  2. the tenure or relationship so established

"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

Etymology

Origin of subinfeudation

1720–30; sub- + infeudation enfeoffment < Medieval Latin infeudātiōn-, s. of infeudātiō ( in- 2, feud 2, -ation )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“And Lorren asked about the influence of subinfeudation on Modegan currency. Kilvin had to translate. Even then I could not answer.”

From Literature

But I am here speaking of the thirteenth century when this 'conveyancing test' could not be readily applied, when the self-same ceremony might be regarded either as the feoffment by subinfeudation of a freehold tenant or the admittance of a customary tenant, there being neither charter on the one hand nor entry on a court roll on the other hand.

From Project Gutenberg

Subfeu, sub-fū′, v.t. to make subinfeudation of.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

Subinfeudation, sub-in-fū-dā′shun, n. the right enjoyed by the inferior lord, in imitation of his superiors, of making similar grants of portions of his land to others, to be held by them as his vassals.—adjs. and ns.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a subinfeudation of lands in the township of Pickburn-with-Brodsworth, in the parish of Brodsworth and wapentake of Strafforth, four miles north-west of Doncaster; for which Gilbert Cook paid a gersuma or fine to Jordan de Pickburn.

From Project Gutenberg