Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Owing feudal allegiance to a sovereign or lord: Describes a person or entity that is bound by feudal obligations of loyalty and service to a superior lord or monarch.
   • Pertaining to the relationship of a feudal vassal: Relating to the nature or conditions of feudal tenure and subordination.

2. Noun:

   • A person holding a fief; a vassal: A person who has been granted the use of land (a fief) by a lord in exchange for allegiance and service, such as military support.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The small kingdom was feudatory to the larger empire for centuries.
  • Their relationship was strictly feudatory, governed by oaths of fealty.

• Noun:

  • The duke was a powerful feudatory of the king.
  • As a feudatory, he was required to provide knights for the lord's army.

Advanced Usage

• "In a feudatory capacity": Acting in the role of a vassal.
  • He ruled the province in a feudatory capacity, under the emperor's ultimate authority.

Variants and Related Words

• Feudal (adj): Relating to the medieval social system of lords and vassals.
  • The feudal system structured much of medieval European society.
• Feudalism (n): The dominant social system in medieval Europe.
  • Feudalism was characterized by the exchange of land for service.
• Fief (n): An estate of land held under feudal obligations.
  • The knight received a fief from his lord.

Synonyms

• Vassal: A holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.
• Liege: A lord or sovereign to whom allegiance and service are due; also, a vassal or subject.
• Subordinate: Lower in rank or position (general term, not specific to feudalism).

Antonyms

• Sovereign: A supreme ruler, especially a monarch, who holds ultimate authority.
• Lord: A person who has authority, control, or power over others; specifically, one from whom a vassal holds land.

Adjective

1. owing feudal allegiance to or being subject to a sovereign
   • it remained feudatory to India until 1365
2. of or pertaining to the relation of a feudal vassal to his lord
   • a feudatory relationship

Noun

1. a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord