fief

Meanings

• noun

  A territory granted to a vassal by a feudal lord, usually in return for military service.

  - "The knight ruled over his fief with an iron fist."
  - "The fief was located in the rolling hills of the countryside."

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Pronunciation

1. /fiːf/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88679973"

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Synonyms

manor , seigniory

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with fief
ief , grief , relief

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Variants

List of all variants of fief that leads to same result
fief , fiefs

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originating from the Old French word 'feud', meaning 'service' or 'fealty'. The term 'fief' refers to the land granted to a vassal in exchange for military service or allegiance.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The concept of the fief originated in the Early Middle Ages, around the 6th to 8th centuries.

2. The size of a fief varied greatly, from small plots of land to vast territories.

3. The feudal system, which included the concept of the fief, began to decline in the late Middle Ages due to the rise of centralized monarchies and the growth of trade and commerce.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Feudalism: A social and political system based on land tenure, in which lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service and allegiance.

2. Vassal: A person who holds land or other property from a lord in return for military service or allegiance.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In feudal societies, the fief represented the foundation of power and wealth for the vassal, providing the resources necessary to maintain a household and support a retinue of knights and other servants. The concept of the fief was central to the social and political structure of the Middle Ages in Europe.

How to Memorize "fief"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a medieval landscape with lords granting land to their vassals in exchange for military service. Visualize the vassals ruling over their fiefs and maintaining their households.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'fief' with the concept of land granted in exchange for military service. Remember that it was a fundamental part of the feudal system.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic by remembering the phrase 'Feudal land for military service' to help remember the meaning of the word 'fief'.

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