vassalとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Middle English vassal, from Old French vassal, from Medieval Latin vassallus (“manservant, domestic, retainer”), from Latin vassus (“servant”), from Gaulish *wassos (“young man, squire”), from Proto-Celtic *wastos (“servant”) (compare Old Irish foss かつ Welsh gwas).

発音

• IPA^(key): /ˈvæsəl/
  • 韻: -æsəl

名詞

vassal (複数形 vassals)

1. (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.

   Synonyms: feudatory, feudal tenant

   The manor's vassals owed first fruits and a tithe to the parish church, another 10% to the lord (including at least 50 eels), a week or two each year of service in the manor's upkeep, and service in the local fyrd.

2. (historical) Any direct subordinate bound by such vows to a superior.

   The king ordered his vassals to join him on the crusade unless they had a written note signed by the archbishop or pope.

   Synonyms: subject, dependant, bondsman, villein, serf, helot, thrall, servant, slave

3. (figurative) Any subordinate bound by similar close ties.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     The vassals of his anger.

派生語

関連する語

形容詞

vassal (not comparable)

1. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.
   • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:

     Did they, quoth you? / Who sees the heavenly Rosaline / That, like a rude and savage man of Inde / At the first opening of the gorgeous east / Bows not his vassal head and strucken blind / Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?

動詞

vassal (三人称単数 現在形 vassals, 現在分詞 vassalling, 過去形および過去分詞形 vassalled)

1. (transitive) To treat as a vassal or to reduce to the position of a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave.
2. (transitive) To subordinate to someone or something.

アナグラム

• Salvas, slavas, vasals