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infanta

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅fan⋅ta

[in-fan-tuh]
–noun
1. a daughter of the king of Spain or of Portugal.
2. an infante's wife.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Sp or Pg; fem. of infante
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·fan·ta   (ĭn-fān'tə, -fän'-)   
n.  A daughter of a Spanish or Portuguese king.

[Spanish and Portuguese, feminine of infante, infante; see infante.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

infanta

the title borne from the 13th century by the children of the Spanish and Portuguese monarchs. The title infante was borne by the sons of the sovereign, and the title infanta was given to the daughters and to the wife of an infante. From the reign of John I of Castile (1379-90) there began the custom of calling the sovereign's eldest son principe (prince) de Asturias and not infante. Correspondingly, until the severance of Brazil from the Portuguese monarchy, the eldest son was principe de Brasil. Although a son or daughter of the sovereign of Spain was by right infante or infanta of Spain, the sovereign could grant the title, alone, to other members of the blood royal.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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