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bar·on

(bărən)

a. A British nobleman of the lowest rank.

b. A nobleman of continental Europe, ranked differently in various countries.

c. A Japanese nobleman of the lowest rank.

d. Used as the title for such a nobleman.

a. A feudal tenant holding his rights and title directly from a king or another feudal superior.

b. A lord or nobleman; a peer.

3. One having great wealth, power, and influence in a specified sphere of activity: an oil baron.

4. A cut of beef consisting of a double sirloin.

[Middle English, from Old French, probably of Germanic origin.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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