MEANING
A superior feudal lord to whom subordinate lords owe allegiance.
Use it for
layered sovereignty; subordinate rulers; conflicting obligationsShow that a lord can rule locally while answering to a higher power.
Words that belong together
- feudal suzerain
- owe allegiance to a suzerain
- powerful suzerain
On the page
The suzerain demanded soldiers but left the valley's laws unchanged.
Their suzerain lived beyond the mountains and rarely visited.
A rebellion against the suzerain united three otherwise hostile dukes.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- suzerain
Usage notes
Primary category: fantasy. More specifically hierarchical than ruler; also a state controlling another state's foreign relations while leaving internal autonomy. Noun: suzerain; plural suzerains.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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