[en-koh-mee-en-duh, -kom-ee-; Sp. eng-kaw-myen-dah] 
[-duh
z; Sp. -dahs] . (formerly in Spanish America) | 1. | the system, instituted in 1503, under which a Spanish soldier or colonist was granted a tract of land or a village together with its Indian inhabitants. |
| 2. | the land or village together with its inhabitants. |
| Main Entry: | encomienda |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | in the US, a land grant system started in 1503 which gave certain Spaniards an estate or tract of land in America as well as the Native American inhabitants of that land; also, this tract of land and its inhabitants |
| Example: | Encomienda provided for Indian tribute in exchange for protection and Christian instruction. |
| Usage: | encomendero n |