feudalism

From feudal +‎ -ism.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfju.də.lɪ.zəm/, [ˈfju.də.lɪ.zm̩]

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feudalism (countable and uncountable, plural feudalisms)

1. A social system based on personal ownership of resources and personal fealty between a suzerain (lord) and a vassal (subject). Defining characteristics are direct ownership of resources, personal loyalty, and a hierarchical social structure reinforced by religion.
   • 1921, Emerson Hough, The Passing of the Frontier: A Chronicle of the Old West, page 34:

     It was the beginning of a feudalism of the range, a barony rude enough, but a glorious one, albeit it began, like all feudalism, in large-handed theft and generous murdering.

   • 2003, Ian Douglas, Richard John Hugget, Companion Encyclopedia of Geography, page 212:

     The re-emergence of empire was thwarted by immense topographical variety, coastal confolutions, and wide-openness to the east, which made Christendom difficult to organize and defend as a whole from Viking, barbarian and Islamic attacks round its perimeter; by natural temperateness, which rendered large-scale disasters needing widespread rescue of populations rare (Jones 1981); and by the very devolved political system represented by feudalism, which encouraged the fissipation of whatever larger units did develop.

• feudal
• feudalistic

• capitalism
• communism
• monarchy
• peasant
• serf
• suzerain
• vassal

• sulfamide

Borrowed from Italian feudalismo, French féodalisme. Equivalent to feudal +‎ -ism.

• IPA^(key): /fe.u.da.ˈlism/

feudalism n (uncountable)

1. feudalism