Meaning
A Frankish vassal or tenant in the Early Middle Ages.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
1750, from Medieval Latin leudēs pl (“vassals or followers of the king”), from Frankish *liudi (“people”), from Proto-Germanic *liudiz (“people”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁léwdʰis (“man, people”). Cognate with Old High German liuti (“people, subordinates”) (modern German Leute), Gothic *𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌸𐍃 (*liuþs), Old English lēod (“chief, man”). Doublet of lede.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
antrustion
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.