See Also: suzerain(dictionary)

suzerain (iou)



suzerain noun & adjective. Also fem. (rare) suzeraine. E19.
[French, Old French suserain, prob. from sus above, up (from Latin su(r)sum upward), after souverain SOVEREIGN.]
A. noun.
A feudal overlord. E19.
A sovereign or State having some control over another State that is internally autonomous. M19.
b. attrib. or as adjective. Of a ruler or State: holding the position of suzerain. M19.