suzerain
Americannoun
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a sovereign or a state exercising political control over a dependent state.
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History/Historical. a feudal overlord.
adjective
noun
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a state or sovereign exercising some degree of dominion over a dependent state, usually controlling its foreign affairs
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( as modifier )
a suzerain power
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a feudal overlord
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( as modifier )
suzerain lord
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Etymology
Origin of suzerain
1800–10; < French, equivalent to sus above (< Latin sūsum, variant of sursum, contraction of subversum, neuter of subversus upturned; sub-, verse ) + ( souv ) erain sovereign
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.
In 1878, Britain took Cyprus in "trust" from the declining Ottoman Empire and disregarded Cypriot demands for union with Greece on the grounds that the Sultan was still the suzerain.
From Time Magazine Archive
In four days at Philadelphia's Kelly Pool, nine world and 13 American records were demolished, and U.S. aquatic status soared to suzerain heights.
From Time Magazine Archive
In return for protection, the cities often furnished a contingent to the army or navy of their suzerain, and sometimes paid tribute either in money or in kind.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 "Dagupan" to "David" by Various
Morgan now found himself suzerain of a fleet of thirty-seven vessels, large and small, carrying sixteen, fourteen, twelve, ten, even down to four pound guns.
From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume II (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Thornbury, Walter
The monarch was rapidly acquiring a centralized power, which was very different from the overlordship of a feudal suzerain.
From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II by Lea, Henry Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
