Suzerain

2 definitions found

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

  Suzerain \Su"ze*rain\, n. [F., formed fr. sus above, L. susum,
     sursum (fr. sub under + versum, p. p. of vertere to turn),
     after the analogy of souverain, E. sovereign. See {Sub-}, and
     {Verse}.]
     A superior lord, to whom fealty is due; a feudal lord; a lord
     paramount.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  suzerain
       n : a state exercising a degree of dominion over a dependent
           state especially in its foreign affairs