vassal
IPA: vˈæsʌɫ
noun
- (historical, law) The grantee of a fief, a subordinate granted use of a superior's land and its income in exchange for vows of fidelity and homage and (typically) military service.
- (historical) Any direct subordinate bound by such vows to a superior.
- (figurative) Any subordinate bound by similar close ties.
verb
- (transitive) To treat as a vassal or to reduce to the position of a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave.
- (transitive) To subordinate to someone or something.
adjective
- Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.
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Examples of "vassal" in Sentences
- The land belongs to the vassal states.
- The dynasty was a vassal of the Kingdom of Ormus.
- The contumacious vassal then plundered the entire district.
- Francis essentially became a vassal of the Emperor of the French.
- During this time, the king of the Persians was a vassal of the Medes.
- It was once the residence of the powerful vassal family of Trencavel.
- Lord Ieyasu, for his part, regarded the Governor as a matchless vassal.
- Do you agree that the king of Albania was the vassal of the Sasanian king
- There is a wonderful program called vassal, found here: www.vassalengine.org
- Thus, in theory, the lord as well as the vassal could be guilty of disloyalty.
- The purpose of the commendation was to make a chosen person a vassal of a lord.
- His nameless son and successor [212] is described as the vassal of the sultan, whom he served with two hundred lances: that
- But it is worth noticing that none of these leaders commanded a very large force, and none is referred to as the vassal or liegeman of another.
- Hassan can, at a handclap, call a vassal at hand and ask that all staff plan a bacchanal - a gala ball that has what pagan charm small galas lack.
- Zaichenko said that UNA-UNSO activists were planning to hold the protest due to the fact that such a church service "is very similar to the coronation of a vassal, which is humiliating for Ukrainians."
- Not only did you stand up to Big Oil but you stood up to Big Oil and won for your fellow Alaskans, as a Republican, during a Republican administration whose first family is best characterized as a vassal of the Saud family.
- But five years on, George Bush and Dick Cheney are putting the screws on their Green Zone government to sign a secret deal for indefinite military occupation, which would effectively reduce Iraq to a long-term vassal state. "
- She passed several salutary laws, one forbidding polygamy, another abolishing human sacrifices; her treaties with the Portuguese she faithfully observed, but never would acknowledge their supremacy -- never would allow herself to be called the vassal of any power.
- His nameless son and successor ‡ is described as the vassal of the sultan, whom he served with two hundred lances: that Comnenian prince was no more than duke of Trebizond, and the title of emperor was first assumed by the pride and envy of the grandson of Alexius.