Medieval History Terms

noun a prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute

verb to engage in a prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute

• The feud between the two families has been going on for generations.
• I heard there's a feud brewing between the neighbors over the property line.
• There's a feud going down on social media between those two influencers.
• The feud between creativity and logic in his mind was causing him inner turmoil.

noun the system by which coats of arms and other armorial bearings are devised, described, and regulated

• The study of heraldry involves the examination and interpretation of coats of arms.
• She has a strong interest in heraldry and enjoys designing her own family crest.
• I heard he's really into all that fancy heraldry stuff.
• The intricate heraldry of the old castle walls symbolized the family's history and power.

verb to rob or plunder (a place) by force, especially in wartime

• The army was accused of pillaging the village during the war.
• The bandits were caught pillaging the local stores.
• The thieves were out pillaging the neighborhood last night.
• The corporation was criticized for pillaging the environment for profit.

noun a member of a scholastic society or institution

adjective relating to schools, education, or learning; scholarly

• The scholastic achievements of the students were recognized at the annual awards ceremony.
• I heard that the scholastic team won the academic competition last weekend.
• She's always been a scholastic overachiever, acing every test without even trying.
• His scholastic pursuit of knowledge led him to become a leading expert in his field.

noun painful or laborious effort

verb to engage in painful or laborious work

• The travail of the researchers led to groundbreaking discoveries in the field of medicine.
• I heard about the travail you went through to finish that project on time.
• I can't believe the travail of dealing with that difficult customer today.
• The artist's travail in creating this masterpiece was evident in every brushstroke.

noun the obligations or services owed by a vassal to a feudal lord

• The lord granted vassalage to his loyal subjects in exchange for their service and loyalty.
• In the olden days, being in vassalage meant you had to work for the lord in return for protection.
• Back in the feudal times, vassalage was like being a boss's minion.
• The company's strict policies felt like vassalage, with employees having to follow every rule without question.