1. the territory or domain ruled by a lord; a feudal estate
Usage: archaic; historical
2. the power or authority of a lord over his domain
Usage: archaic; historical

Examples

• The medieval signiory encompassed several villages and their surrounding farmlands.
• Under feudalism, the signiory granted the lord both land and authority over his subjects.
• The ancient signiory had been passed down through generations of the noble family.
• Documents from the 14th century describe the boundaries of the signiory in great detail.
• The signiory included not only agricultural lands but also forests and mills.
• Peasants within the signiory owed various obligations to their feudal lord.