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 sūrsum, sūsum, upward, from *subsvorsum, turned upward : subs-, sub-, from under; see SUB- + vorsum, neuter of vorsus, variant of versus, past participle of vertere, to turn; see VERSUS) + souverein, sovereign; see SOVEREIGN.] suze·rain adj. |
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