lordless
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having no lord or master: Describes a person, group, or entity that is not under the authority, control, or feudal service of a lord or master. It implies a state of being without a superior ruler or owner.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- After the king's death and the collapse of the feudal system, many peasants became lordless and free to work their own land.
- The lordless knights wandered the countryside, offering their swords to the highest bidder.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Literary Context: The term is often used in historical or literary discussions about feudalism, medieval society, or periods of social upheaval where traditional hierarchies broke down.
- The chronicles describe the time of anarchy as a land filled with lordless men and lawless bands.
Variants and Related Words
- Masterless (adj): Very similar in meaning, specifically lacking a master or employer. Often used interchangeably with "lordless" in historical contexts.
- The city was wary of the influx of masterless soldiers after the war.
Synonyms
- Unruled: Not governed or controlled.
- Unmastered: Not under the control of a master.
- Autonomous: Self-governing; independent (though this often has a more positive connotation of self-rule, whereas "lordless" can imply a lack of protection or order).
Antonyms
- Feudal: Relating to a system where lords grant land to vassals in exchange for service.
- Subservient: Prepared to obey others unquestioningly.
- Subject: Being under the authority of a monarch or government.
Adjective
- having no lord or master
- harsh punishments for sturdy vagabonds and masterless men