Feudalism Meaning
/ˈfju.də.lɪ.zəm/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA social system based on personal ownership of resources and personal fealty between a suzerain (lord) and a vassal (subject). Defining characteristics are direct ownership of resources, personal loyalty, and a hierarchical social structure reinforced by religion.
Sentence Examples
She wrote a paper on feudalism.
Historians say the Black Death hastened the end of feudalism.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Medieval Europe's ____ was a strict hierarchy of lords and vassals.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The rise of centralized monarchies eventually led to the decline of ____ in most parts of Europe.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English feudal Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English feudalism From feudal + -ism.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It was the beginning of a feudalism of the range, a barony rude enough, but a glorious one, albeit it began, like all feudalism, in large-handed theft and generous murdering."
— 1921, Emerson Hough, The Passing of the Frontier: A Chronicle of the Old West, page 34:
"The re-emergence of empire was thwarted by immense topographical variety, coastal confolutions, and wide-openness to the east, which made Christendom difficult to organize and defend as a whole from Viking, barbarian and Islamic attacks round its perimeter; by natural temperateness, which rendered large-scale disasters needing widespread rescue of populations rare (Jones 1981); and by the very devolved political system represented by feudalism, which encouraged the fissipation of whatever larger units did develop."
— 2003, Ian Douglas, Richard John Hugget, Companion Encyclopedia of Geography, page 212:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Medieval Europe's ____ was a strict hierarchy of lords and vassals.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The rise of centralized monarchies eventually led to the decline of ____ in most parts of Europe.