allodial

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   law: held in absolute ownership, without feudal duties or a superior landlord

   The family claimed allodial title to the estate rather than holding it from a feudal lord.

2. 2
   noun

   land or property held in absolute ownership without feudal obligation

   The treaty distinguished hereditary fiefs from allodials owned outright.

Through Middle French allodial from Medieval Latin allodialis, 'held in freehold,' based on allodium, land owned outright. Allodium ultimately reflects a Germanic compound meaning 'whole property.' Alodial is a recognized variant spelling.

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