enfeoff
To transfer a fief to, to endow with a fiefTo transfer a fief to, to endow with a fief; to put (a person) in legal possession of a freehold interest.
Meaning
2 senses(historical, transitive)To transfer a fief to, to endow with a fief; to put (a person) in legal possession of a freehold interest.
belehnen, investieren
(figuratively, transitive)To give up completely; to surrender, to yield.
- put in possession of land in exchange for a pledge of service, in feudal society
Translations
4 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From Late Middle English enfeffen, enfeoffen (“to grant (property, rights, etc.) under theFrom Late Middle English enfeffen, enfeoffen (“to grant (property, rights, etc.) under the feudal system”) [and other forms], from Old French enfeffer, enfieffer (compare Anglo-Latin infeoffāre, Anglo-Norman enfeoffer), from en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’) + fief (“estate held by a person on condition of providing military service to a superior”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peḱu- (“livestock, especially sheep or cattle”)). The English word is analysable as en- + feoff.
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Forms
enfeoffs, enfeoffing, enfeoffed, enfeoffedSynonyms
2 synonymsWord family
8 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle