Module 2: "Lords and Ladies," Texts 1–3

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. self-sufficient
    able to provide for your own needs without help from others
    The lords owned large self-sufficient estates called manors, which included the land worked by the serfs.
  2. palisade
    surround with a wall in order to fortify
    About the 12th century these palisaded, fortified manorial dwellings began to give way to stone castles.
  3. fortified
    secured with bastions
    About the 12th century these palisaded, fortified manorial dwellings began to give way to stone castles.
  4. retainer
    a person working in the service of another
    If a discontented or ill-treated serf had fled, doubtless the lord would order retainers to bring him back—for serfs were bound to the lord unless they could evade him for a year and a day.
  5. evade
    escape, either physically or mentally
    If a discontented or ill-treated serf had fled, doubtless the lord would order retainers to bring him back—for serfs were bound to the lord unless they could evade him for a year and a day.
  6. petty
    small and of little importance
    The lord would also hear the petty offenses of peasants and fine the culprits or perhaps sentence them to a day in the pillory (a wooden frame that secured a person’s head and arms, causing physical discomfort and exposing the person to public ridicule and abuse).
  7. poach
    hunt illegally
    Serious deeds, such as poaching or murder, were legal matters for the local court or royal “circuit” court.
  8. vestment
    a gown worn by the clergy
    She saw that her spinners, weavers, and embroiderers furnished clothes for the castle and rich vestments for the clergy.
  9. clergy
    the entire class of religious officials
    She saw that her spinners, weavers, and embroiderers furnished clothes for the castle and rich vestments for the clergy.
  10. squire
    a young nobleman attendant on a knight
    For seven years pages were schooled in religion, music, dancing, riding, hunting, and some reading, writing, and arithmetic. At the age of 14 they became squires.
  11. chivalry
    the medieval principles governing knightly conduct
    The behavior of all fighting men gradually came to be governed by a system called chivalry.
  12. feudalism
    the social system in which vassals were protected by lords
    Middle Ages feudalism was based on the exchange of land for military service.
  13. conquest
    the act of defeating and taking control of
    King William the Conqueror used the concept of feudalism to reward his Norman supporters with English lands for their help in the conquest of England.
  14. judicial
    relating to the administration of justice
    The lord would also be expected to exercise his judicial powers over his vassals and peasants.
  15. vassal
    a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord
    The lord would also be expected to exercise his judicial powers over his vassals and peasants.
Created on Tue Sep 29 16:27:18 EDT 2020 (updated Thu Oct 01 13:19:09 EDT 2020)

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