seneschal

[ sen-uh-shuhl ]
See synonyms for seneschal on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an officer having full charge of domestic arrangements, ceremonies, the administration of justice, etc., in the household of a medieval prince or dignitary; steward.

Origin of seneschal

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Middle French <Frankish; compare Medieval Latin seniscalcus senior servant, cognate with Old High German senescalh (sene- old, senior + scalh servant)

Words Nearby seneschal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use seneschal in a sentence

  • The seneschal leaned back, and was concerned to feel his pulses throbbing a shade too quickly.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • His brows came together in a frown, from which the seneschal argued that his suggestion was not well received.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • He bowed, with a flourish of his plumed hat, and would with that have taken his departure but that the seneschal stayed him.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • At his desk sat his secretary, who had been a witness of the interview, lost in wonder almost as great as the seneschal's own.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • To the invitation to precede him she readily responded, and, with a bow to the seneschal, she began to walk across the apartment.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for seneschal

seneschal

/ (ˈsɛnɪʃəl) /


noun
  1. a steward of the household of a medieval prince or nobleman who took charge of domestic arrangements, etc

  2. British a cathedral official

Origin of seneschal

1
C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin siniscalcus, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German senescalh oldest servant, from sene- old + scalh a servant

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012