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definitions

suzerainty

[soo-zuh-rin-tee, -reyn-]
See more synonyms for suzerainty on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural su·ze·rain·ties.
  1. the position or authority of a suzerain.
  2. the domain or area subject to a suzerain.

Origin of suzerainty

1815–25; < French suzeraineté, Middle French suserenete, equivalent to suseren suzerain + -ete -ity
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for suzerainty

commonwealth, domain, crown, dynasty, county, sphere, empire, realm, field, state, sovereignty, territory, sway, province, division, monarchy, reign, nation, tract, throne

Examples from the Web for suzerainty

Historical Examples of suzerainty

  • Nothing was said as to the "suzerainty of her Majesty" mentioned in the Convention of 1881.

  • He revived the obsolete claim to suzerainty, and pretended that the Scots were rebels.

    Henry VIII.

    A. F. Pollard

  • Llywelyn the Great refused to dispute the suzerainty of England.

    Medival Wales

    A. G. Little

  • Here he lorded it over the natives, but acknowledged the suzerainty of the Spaniards.

    The Philippine Islands

    Ramon Reyes Lala

  • It is governed by a prince who is nominally under the suzerainty of Turkey.

    The Flags of the World

    F. Edward Hulme

British Dictionary definitions for suzerainty

suzerainty

noun plural -ties
  1. the position, power, or dignity of a suzerain
  2. the relationship between suzerain and subject
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
Word Origin and History for suzerainty
n.

late 15c., from Old French suserenete; see suzerain.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper