vassal

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Under certain circumstances the vassal was also compelled to make money payments.

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Definitions (17)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun A person who held land from a feudal lord and received protection in return for homage and allegiance.
  2. noun A bondman; a slave.
  3. noun A subordinate or dependent.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (9)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (4)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples

  • War was to be avoided, and above all a war into which we should have been dragged as the vassal of France; so Washington intended to wait, and he managed to make the Kentuckians wait too, a process by no means agreeable to that enterprising people. —  George Washington
  • To be used as a vassal was one thing, to have his country used as a base for a war without being informed was too much. —  Red Storm Rising
  • Lintel was my vassal, and he is well rewarded for his treachery. —  Beyond World's End
  • At the beginning of the week Anthony had been silent and taken to frowning, but by week's end Duncan noticed his vassal was usually the one speaking. —  Garwood, Julie - Honor's Splendour
  • Under certain circumstances the vassal was also compelled to make money payments. —  Early European History
 

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Vassal has been looked up 358 times, favorited 0 times, listed 16 times, and commented on once.

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Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

serf ·  retainer ·  baron ·  courtier ·  ally ·  follower ·  chieftain ·  lord ·  heir ·  adviser ·  servant ·  nobleman

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *vassallus, from *vassus, of Celtic origin; see upo in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Formerly also vassall, rarely vassaile; from Middle English vassal, from Old French vassal, French vassal = Provencal vassal, vassau = Catalan vassal = Spanish vasallo = Portuguese Italian vassallo = Dutch vassaal = G. Swedish vasall = Danish vasal, from Middle Latin vassallus, extended from vassus, vasus, a servant, from Bret, gwaz, a servant, vassal, man, male, = Welsh gwas = Cornish gwas, a youth, servant; cf. Irish fas, growing, growth, and English wax. Hence ult. varlet, valet, vassalage, vavasor.
  2. from vassal, n.
 

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/ˈvæsəl/
by American Heritage

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