suzerain

su·ze·rain  (szr-n, -z-rn)

n.

1. A nation that controls another nation in international affairs but allows it domestic sovereignty.

2. A feudal lord to whom fealty was due.

---

[French, from Old French suserain : probably sus, up (from Latin srsum, ssum, upward, from *subsvorsum, turned upward : subs-, sub-, from under; see sub- + vorsum variant of versus; see versus) + souverein, sovereign; see sovereign.]

---

suze·rain adj.

---

suzerain

Noun

1. a state or sovereign that has some degree of control over a dependent state

2. (formerly) a person who had power over many people [French]

suzerainty n

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

suzerain - a state exercising a degree of dominion over a dependent state especially in its foreign affairs body politic, country, nation, res publica, commonwealth, state, land - a politically organized body of people under a single government; "the state has elected a new president"; "African nations"; "students who had come to the nation's capitol"; "the country's largest manufacturer"; "an industrialized land"