a sovereign or a state exercising political control over a dependent state.
2.
History/Historical. a feudal overlord.
adjective
3.
characteristic of or being a suzerain.
Origin: 1800–10; < French, equivalent to sus above (< Latinsūsum, variant of sursum, contraction of subversum, neuter of subversus upturned; see sub-, verse) + (souv)erainsovereign
"sovereign, ruler," c.1470 (implied in suzerainty), from O.Fr. sus "up, above" (from V.L. susum, from L. sursum "upward, above," contraction of subversum, from sub "up from below") + vertere "a turning" (see versus). With ending from sovereign.