seigniorial

The lord exercised his seigniorial rights over the village.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to a feudal lord: "seigniorial" pertains to or is characteristic of a seignior, a lord or feudal superior, especially in the context of medieval land ownership and authority.

Usage Examples

• (The rights belonging to the feudal lord.)
• (The grandeur characteristic of a feudal lord's residence.)

Advanced Usage

• "Seigniorial system": a feudal system of land tenure where a lord grants land to vassals in exchange for service or rent.

  • Under the seigniorial system, peasants worked the land and paid dues to the lord. (The feudal arrangement of land and obligations.)

• "Seigniorial rights": the privileges and powers held by a feudal lord over his domain and tenants.

  • The abolition of seigniorial rights was a key demand during the French Revolution. (The elimination of feudal privileges.)

Variants and Related Words

• Seignior (n): a feudal lord or landowner.

  • The seignior demanded a portion of the harvest as rent. (The lord of the manor.)

• Seigniory (n): the territory or domain ruled by a seignior.

  • The seigniory extended for miles along the river valley. (The lord's territory.)

Synonyms

• Feudal: relating to the medieval system of land ownership and obligations.
• Manorial: pertaining to a manor or its lord.
• Landed: possessing or relating to large estates.

Related Idioms

• "Lord of the manor": a phrase describing a person with seigniorial authority over a landed estate.
  • He acted as if he were the lord of the manor, expecting everyone to obey him. (A person with assumed seigniorial authority.)