suzerain

Meaning

1. A dominant nation or state that has control over the international affairs of a subservient state which otherwise has domestic autonomy.
2. A feudal landowner to whom vassals were forced to pledge allegiance.

Synonyms

lord

overlord

sire

squire

liege

liege lord

magistrate

magnate

master

sovereign

archon

king of kings

dominator

emperor

grandee

khan

Hyphenated as

su‧ze‧rain

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈs(j)uz(ə)ɹən/

Etymology

From French suzerain, based on sus (“up, above”) (from Latin sursum) with the ending of souverain (whence also English sovereign).