feudal

/'fju:dl/

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Word: Feudal

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: The word "feudal" relates to a system called feudalism, which was a way of organizing society and land during the Middle Ages in Europe. In a feudal system, the king owned all the land and gave parts of it to nobles (called lords) in exchange for their loyalty and military service. These lords then had serfs (or peasants) working on their land.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "feudal" to describe things that are connected to this historical system, like social structures, roles, or relationships.
• It is often used in discussions about history, politics, or literature.

Example Sentence:

• "In a feudal society, the king was at the top of the social hierarchy, followed by the lords, knights, and peasants."

Advanced Usage:

• You might see "feudal" used in a metaphorical sense to describe modern situations that seem to have similar hierarchical structures, such as in some workplaces or organizations where power and resources are concentrated at the top.

Word Variants:

• Feudalism (noun): The system itself. Example: "Feudalism was characterized by the exchange of land for loyalty."
• Feudalistic (adjective): A variant of "feudal," used to describe something that has characteristics of feudalism. Example: "The feudalistic system limited the rights of peasants."

Different Meanings:

• "Feudal" primarily refers to the historical context. Outside of this context, it can imply outdated or rigid social structures.

Synonyms:

• Hierarchical (in the context of social structures)
• Medieval (when discussing the time period)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "feudal," you might encounter phrases like "a feudal system" or "feudal relationships" in discussions about social structures.

Summary:

The word "feudal" is used to describe anything related to feudalism, a historical social and economic system.

Academic

Adjective

1. of or relating to or characteristic of feudalism

Synonyms

• feudalistic