seigneury

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

seigneury
    n 1: the estate of a seigneur [syn: {seigneury}, {seigniory},
         {signory}]
    2: the position and authority of a feudal lord [syn:
       {seigniory}, {seigneury}, {feudal lordship}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Seigniory \Seign"ior*y\, n.; pl. {-ies}. [OE. seignorie, OF.
   seigneurie, F. seigneurie; cf. It. signoria.]
   1. The power or authority of a lord; dominion.
      [1913 Webster]

            O'Neal never had any seigniory over that country but
            what by encroachment he got upon the English.
                                                  --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The territory over which a lord holds jurisdiction; a
      manor. [Written also {seigneury}, and {seignory}.]
      [1913 Webster]