seignior
nounUK /ˈseɪnjə/ · US /ˈsiːnjɚ/
Etymology From Middle English senyour, from Old French seignor, seignior, from Latin senior, seniōrem. Doublet of seigneur, senhor, senior, señor, senyor, signore, sir, and sire.
1
Historical A feudal lord; a nobleman who held his lands by feudal grant; any lord (holder) of a manor.
- Louis XIV’s minions tried to bend New France’s increasingly aboriginal society to his will. […] In the St. Lawrence Valley almost all arable land not reserved for the Church was divided among well-born gentlemen to enable them to become landed aristocrats, or seigniors.2011, Colin Woodard, chapter 2, in American nations, New York: Penguin, →ISBN:
2
A title of respect, formerly corresponding (especially in France) approximately to Sir.
- Derived terms
- seignioral, seigniorial, seigniorize, seigniorship
- Related terms
- grand seignior