feudality

A king grants land to a loyal knight under the system of feudality.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state or condition of being feudal: "feudality" refers to the system or principles of feudalism, a social and political structure based on land tenure and service.
   • A fief or feudal estate: In historical contexts, "feudality" can also denote a piece of land held under feudal tenure.

Usage Examples

• (The feudal system defined the social order.)
• (He received a feudal estate.)

Advanced Usage

• "feudality in decline": the weakening or dissolution of feudal structures.
  • The rise of centralized monarchies led to the feudality in decline across the continent. (Feudal systems lost power.)

Variants and Related Words

• Feudal (adj): relating to the system of feudalism.
  • The feudal lord demanded taxes from the peasants. (Relating to the feudal system.)
• Feudalism (n): the dominant social system in medieval Europe, based on land ownership and service.
  • Feudalism shaped the economic and political life of the Middle Ages. (The broader system.)
• Feudalist (n): a supporter or advocate of feudalism.
  • The feudalist argued for the preservation of traditional land rights. (A proponent of feudalism.)

Synonyms

• Feudal system: the entire structure of feudal relationships.
• Manorialism: a related system focusing on the manor as the unit of economic organization.

Related Idioms

• "Feudality's yoke": a metaphorical reference to the oppressive aspects of feudal obligations.
  • The peasants struggled under the feudality's yoke for centuries. (They endured the burdens of feudal rule.)