vassal

/ˈvæsl/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈæsəl] /ˈvæsl/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈæsəl] /ˈva-səl How to pronounce vassal (audio)/ (ame, mw)

vassal — noun

  • vassalsingular
  • vassalsplural

1. A man in medieval times who held land under a noble and was required to serve th

1.名詞B2
釋義

A man in medieval times who held land under a noble and was required to serve that noble in battle and remain loyal.

例句

Sir Mauricio was a loyal vassal who served the king for over thirty years.

loyal vassal — common collocation

The baron demanded that every vassal provide soldiers during times of war.

同義詞
  • liegeman

    more specific — emphasises absolute personal loyalty to a single lord

  • retainer

    broader — a paid servant or follower, not necessarily a landholder

  • subject

    wider category — owes allegiance to a monarch by citizenship, not by a land-for-service oath

反義詞
  • lord

    the landowner who granted the fief

  • suzerain

    a feudal overlord who held authority over lesser lords

文法句型

vassal + of + [lord/king]

vassal + to + [lord/king]

用法筆記

Frequently appears in historical writing about the Middle Ages. The relationship was formalised through an oath of fealty, in which the vassal pledged military service and the lord promised protection.

常見錯誤

❌The vassal owned the land completely.
✅The vassal held the land under the lord's authority.
💡A vassal had the right to use the land but ultimate ownership stayed with the lord.

2. A nation whose political decisions and military actions are directed by a strong

2.名詞C1
釋義

A nation whose political decisions and military actions are directed by a stronger nation, often under pressure or threat.

例句

After the war, the small kingdom became a vassal of its powerful neighbour.

become a vassal of [country]

The empire demanded that its vassal states pay annual tribute in gold.

collocation: vassal state

同義詞
  • satellite state

    more modern — a country that is formally independent but heavily influenced by a greater power, common in Cold War contexts

  • puppet state

    emphasises direct external control over the government

  • dependency

    more neutral — a territory that relies on a larger country for protection or economic support

  • tributary

    historical — a state that pays regular payments (tribute) to a more powerful one

反義詞
  • sovereign state

    a fully independent country with full self-government

  • empire

    a powerful state that controls multiple territories or vassals

文法句型

vassal + of + [country/empire]

vassal + state

用法筆記

Often used in political analysis or commentary on international relations. The modern sense extends from the feudal concept; the noun is usually modified by 'state' or 'kingdom' to avoid confusion with the historical meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The colony was a vassal of Britain.
✅The colony operated as a vassal state under British control.
💡'Vassal' in political contexts is most precise when paired with 'state,' 'kingdom,' or 'nation' to indicate modern political status rather than feudal land tenure.