_Chamant_ (was: Elvish ideas)
| From: | John Cowan <jcowan@...> |
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| Date: | Thursday, August 7, 2003, 21:52 |
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Andreas Johansson scripsit:
> _Chamant_, which word I can't
> think of an adequate English translation of. It's the definite pl of _camath_,
> which denotes the group of people owning allegiance to a lord (_can_) or lady
> (_cea_)*.
"The Covassalages".
"Covassals" are vassals who owe homage and fealty to the same lord (or lady),
and "covassalage", though not AFAIK attested, is a reasonable term for
the relationship between covassals. It is common in English for semantic
extension to take a term for a relationship and extend it to a group whose
members stand in that relationship ("brotherhood", e.g.). Then we just
make it plural and definite.
Could anyone who has an OED available look up "covassalage", please?
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