vassalage

[ vas-uh-lij ]

/ ˈvæs ə lɪdʒ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vassalage ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state or condition of a vassal.

homage or service required of a vassal.

a territory held by a vassal.

vassals collectively.

dependence, subjection, or servitude.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of vassalage

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French; see vassal, -age

Related formssub·vas·sal·age, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vassalage

Week after week went by, and we were kept in a state of vassalage.
The Two Supercargoes|W.H.G. Kingston
Serfs replaced slaves; vassals replaced serfs; some day, vassalage also will disappear as did slavery and serfdom!
The Pocket Bible or Christian the Printer|Eugne Sue
Europe, delivered from vassalage, shall celebrate the name of Russia!
Moscow|Fred Whishaw
The proletariat might become too knowing, it might get tired of its vassalage, and might rebel against its earthly gods.
Woman under socialism|August Bebel

As justified by his oath of vassalage he vows to slay the man who has insulted his sovereign.
Women of the Teutonic Nations|Hermann Schoenfeld

British Dictionary definitions for vassalage

vassalage

/ (ˈvæsəlɪdʒ) /

noun

(esp in feudal society)

the condition of being a vassal or the obligations to which a vassal was liable
the relationship between a vassal and his lord

subjection, servitude, or dependence in general

rare vassals collectively

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 vassalage

vassalage

c.1300, from Old French vassalage, from vassal (see vassal).