suzerain

[ soo-zuh-rin, -reyn ]

/ ˈsu zə rɪn, -ˌreɪn /

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noun

a sovereign or a state exercising political control over a dependent state.

History/Historical. a feudal overlord.

adjective

characteristic of or being a suzerain.

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Origin of suzerain

1800–10; <French, equivalent to sus above (<Latin sūsum, variant of sursum, contraction of subversum, neuter of subversus upturned; see sub-, verse) + (souv)erainsovereign

Words nearby suzerain

Suva, Suvorov, Suwannee, Suwŏn, Suzanne, suzerain, suzerainty, Suzhou, Suzie, Sv, SV 40

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use suzerain in a sentence

Very lightly, though armed, the twain dismounted, and stood side by side before their suzerain.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
The only hope of the Jews lay in the clemency of their victorious suzerain, and it did not fail them.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 4|Various
The Sacrifice of the Horse was an ancient Hindu custom practised by kings exercising suzerain powers over surrounding kings.
Maha-bharata|Anonymous
And yet at Vienna was a suzerain who might chastise the official participators in a crime against the Empire's laws.
A German Pompadour|Marie Hay

You must now take the pledge of fealty and homage to Charles, King of the Franks, as your suzerain seigneur.
The Iron Arrow Head or The Buckler Maiden|Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for suzerain

suzerain

/ (ˈsuːzəˌreɪn) /

noun

a state or sovereign exercising some degree of dominion over a dependent state, usually controlling its foreign affairs
(as modifier)a suzerain power

a feudal overlord
(as modifier)suzerain lord

Word Origin for suzerain

C19: from French, from sus above (from Latin sursum turned upwards, from sub- up + vertere to turn) + -erain, as in souverain sovereign

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

suzerain

Origin of suzerain

Words nearby suzerain

Words related to suzerain

How to use suzerain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for suzerain

Word Origin for suzerain