
fiefs
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。)
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。)