noun
vassal
VA-suhl
noun
1
In the feudal system, someone granted land by a lord in return for loyalty and service.
"The knight became a vassal of the duke, pledging military service in exchange for his estate."
"Vassals owed their lord a portion of the harvest each year."
2
By extension, any person, group, or country under the control or influence of a more powerful one.
"Critics accused the smaller nation of acting as a vassal state to its powerful neighbor."
adj
1
Behaving in a servile, subordinate way.
"The company took a vassal role in the partnership, always deferring to its larger rival."
How to Use Vassal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or something) tied to serving and obeying a more powerful lord or power.
Common pairings
vassal state
vassal of the crown
a loyal vassal
Word Forms
vassaled past tense, vassalled past tense, vassals plural, vassals singular
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The knight became a _____ of the duke, pledging military service in exchange for his estate.
Etymology
From Old French vassal, going back through Medieval Latin vassallus ("servant") to a Celtic word for a young man or squire.