vassal — a person who was given land by a feudal lord in return for loyalty and service
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person who was given land by a feudal lord in return for loyalty and service
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈvæsəl/
Example Sentences
- In medieval times, becoming a vassal was like signing the world's first employment contract - except you couldn't quit and your boss owned your house!
- The vassal pledged his sword and service to the lord in exchange for protection and land.
- After the war, the defeated country had no choice but to become a vassal to the victorious empire.
vassal
NOUN[/ˈvæsəl/]
a person who was given land by a feudal lord in return for loyalty and service
a person who was given land by a feudal lord in return for loyalty and service
The vassal serves his castle without hassle!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Vassal derives from Medieval Latin vassallus, which ultimately traces to Celtic gwas, meaning 'young man' or 'servant.' The term became central to feudal terminology, denoting the hierarchical relationship between a feudal lord and his subordinate.
Breakdown
vassallus (Medieval Latin: servant, feudal dependent) ← gwas (Celtic: young man, servant). The Medieval Latin form developed to describe a person bound by oath of loyalty to a feudal lord in exchange for land and protection.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“In medieval times, becoming a vassal was like signing the world's first employment contract - except you couldn't quit and your boss owned your house!”
“The vassal pledged his sword and service to the lord in exchange for protection and land.”
“After the war, the defeated country had no choice but to become a vassal to the victorious empire.”
“He refused to be anyone's vassal, preferring freedom over security.”
📚Related Words
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