Feudal Terminology

noun an estate or territory granted to a younger son of a king

• The royal family's appanage included several estates and a substantial income.
• The prince's appanage allowed him to live a life of luxury without having to work.
• She inherited a huge appanage from her rich uncle and now she's living the high life.
• In modern society, education is often seen as the appanage of the privileged few.

noun a territory or domain ruled by a duke or duchess

• The duchy was ruled by a noble family for centuries.
• The duchy is known for its beautiful landscapes and historic castles.
• I heard the duchy is a hotspot for tourists during the summer.
• She felt like she was the duchess of her own little duchy, with everyone looking up to her.

noun a feudal estate or fee granted by a sovereign or lord in exchange for loyalty and service

• The lord granted the fief to his loyal vassal.
• The fief was passed down through generations in the noble family.
• The fief was like their own little kingdom.
• In the corporate world, the department manager's team was his fief.

noun a territory or sphere of influence controlled by a particular person or group

• The nobleman ruled over his fiefdom with absolute authority.
• The boss treats this department like his own little fiefdom.
• She's the queen of her social media fiefdom.
• The tech giant's dominance in the industry created a digital fiefdom.

noun a feudal superior or sovereign

adjective loyal and faithful to a superior or sovereign

• The liege lord had complete control over the feudal land.
• My liege, what are your orders for the day?
• I'm loyal to my liege, no matter what.
• The company's CEO was considered the liege of the office, with everyone following his lead.

noun the position or authority of a lord

• His Lordship requests your presence at the royal banquet.
• I heard His Lordship is throwing a big party this weekend.
• Yo, did you see His Lordship's new ride? It's sick!
• In the world of finance, his lordship over the market is unmatched.

noun a person or country in a subordinate position to a superior ruler or overlord

• The vassal pledged allegiance to the lord in exchange for protection and land.
• The vassal had to do whatever the lord asked in return for safety.
• The vassal was basically the lord's sidekick, always following orders.
• In the corporate world, the CEO treated his assistant like a vassal, expecting complete loyalty and obedience.

verb to invest with a freehold estate in land

• The king decided to enfeoff his loyal subject with a large estate.
• The lord enfeoffed his favorite knight with a piece of land.
• I heard the boss enfeoffed his buddy with a sweet deal.
• She enfeoffed him with her trust and loyalty.