好词典

fiefs

UK //fiːfs//US //fiːfs//

词源

源自中古法语 fief(封地),最终源于中世纪拉丁语 feudum,与 feudal(封建的)同源。12世纪进入英语,最初特指封建土地授予制度。

noun

❶ 封建制度下由领主授予封臣的土地或财产,封臣需向领主效忠并提供军事服务。

“The knight received several fiefs from the king in exchange for his loyalty.”

(骑士从国王那里获得了几块封地,以换取他的忠诚。)

“Managing multiple fiefs was a complex task for medieval lords.”

(管理多块封地对中世纪领主来说是项复杂的任务。)

❶ 现代引申义指个人或组织控制的势力范围或专属领域。

“The department heads guarded their fiefs jealously against any interference.”

(部门主管们小心翼翼地守护着自己的势力范围,防止任何干涉。)

“In the corporate world, managers often treat their teams as personal fiefs.”

(在企业界,经理们常把自己的团队当作个人领地。)

同义词:estate, domain, territory, demesne, manor

常见短语

feudal fiefs — 特指中世纪封建制度下的封地,强调其历史背景和法律关系。

“The map showed the distribution of feudal fiefs across the kingdom.”

(地图显示了王国内封建封地的分布情况。)

personal fief — 形容某人完全掌控的领域或势力范围,常带有排他性意味。

“The editor turned the literary section into his personal fief.”

(那位编辑把文学版块变成了他的个人领地。)