Fief (en. Fief)

/fjɛf/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Land or domain granted by a lord to a vassal.

The vassal swore loyalty to his lord in exchange for his fief.

Le vassal a prêté serment de fidélité à son seigneur en échange de son fief.

Domain, area of influence of a person or group.

In this city, his business is considered his fief.

Dans cette ville, son entreprise est considérée comme son fief.

Set of rights and obligations linked to a fief.

The fief included tax collection and the administration of justice.

Le fief incluait la collecte de taxes et l'administration de la justice.

From the Latin 'feudum', a term designating a property held in exchange for services.

family fief

Property or domain inherited from the family.

fief de famille

to make one's fief

To take possession or exercise control over an area.

faire son fief

to go to one's fief

To go to a place where one has influence or control.

aller dans son fief

vassal

A person who receives a fief from a lord in exchange for services.

vassal

lord

Owner of a fief, who grants it to a vassal.

seigneur

feudalism

Social and economic system based on the exchange of land and services.

feudalisme

A place where one feels at home or has control.

This café is my fief; I spend all my afternoons there.

Ce café est mon fief, j'y passe tous mes après-midis.

A territory or domain where one feels powerful or influential.

His office has become his fief, where he makes all the decisions.

Son bureau est devenu son fief, où il prend toutes les décisions.