English

Noun

geneat ‎(plural geneat or geneats)

1. (historical) A retainer; vassal; one who holds lands of a superior either by service or payment of rent.
   • 1861, C. H. Pearson, Early & Middle Ages Eng. I. 201:

     The tenants, cotsetlas, geburs, and geneats, were the highest among the semiservile.

   • 1872, E. W. Robertson, Hist. Ess. 101:

     The right of the husbandman was a share right, his name was Geneat or sharer in the vill.

   • 1892, F. Seebohm in Hist. Rev. July 458:

     In each manor there is the same division into land in demesne and land in villainage, the inland and the geneat land.

Derived terms

• geneatland

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editor (1884–1928) A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697; and The Oxford English Dictionary; being a Corrected Re-issue with an Introduction, Supplement, and Bibliography of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (the First Supplement), Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1933, OCLC 2748467.

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *ganautaz, equivalent to ġe- +‎ nēat.

Noun

ġenēat m ‎(nominative plural ġenēatas)

1. A companion; associate; vassal

Derived terms

• bēodġenēat
• ealdġenēat
• heorþġenēat

Descendants

• → English: geneat