Definition

Noun: The position, rank, and authority held by a feudal lord. It refers to the state of being a lord within the feudal system, encompassing the rights to govern a territory, administer justice, and command military service from vassals in exchange for land and protection.

Usage Examples

• The king granted him the feudal lordship over the northern marches.
• His feudal lordship came with the responsibility to protect the serfs living on the manor.
• The document outlined the rights and duties inherent to his feudal lordship.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used abstractly to describe the nature of power and control in a hierarchical system reminiscent of feudalism.
  • The CEO exercised a kind of corporate feudal lordship over the company's various divisions.

Variants and Related Words

• Lordship: A more general term for the authority or rank of a lord, often used as a title (e.g., "Your Lordship").
• Seigniory or Seigneury: A close synonym referring to the power, domain, or rights of a feudal lord.
• Manorialism: The economic and social system centered on the manor, which was the unit of a lord's estate.
• Feudalism: The overarching social, economic, and political system in which feudal lordship was a key component.

Synonyms

• Seigniory
• Liege lordship
• Suzerainty (specifically refers to the authority of a feudal overlord)

Antonyms

• Vassalage
• Serfdom
• Subjugation

Noun

1. the position and authority of a feudal lord