suzerainty

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a relationship in which a dominant state controls the external affairs of a subordinate but internally autonomous state

   The treaty placed the smaller kingdom under imperial suzerainty while preserving its local government.

2. 2
   noun

   the authority, jurisdiction, or position of a suzerain

   The empire asserted suzerainty over the border territories without annexing them outright.

From Middle English suserente and Old French suserenete, 'the jurisdiction of a suzerain,' formed from suzerain + -ty. The modern political sense was reborrowed from French suzerainete in the early nineteenth century.

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