Enfeoff

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Enfeoff \En*feoff"\ (?; see {Feoff}, 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {Enfeoffed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Enfeoffing}.] [Pref. en- +
     feoff, fief: cf. LL. infeofare, OF. enfeffer, enfeofer.]
     1. (Law) To give a feud, or right in land, to; to invest with
        a fief or fee; to invest (any one) with a freehold estate
        by the process of feoffment. --Mozley & W.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To give in vassalage; to make subservient. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              [The king] enfeoffed himself to popularity. --Shak.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  enfeoff
       v : put in possession of land in exchange for a pledge of
           service, in feudal society; "He enfeoffed his son-in-law
           with a large estate in Scotland"