paravail

adjective

par·​a·​vail

¦parə¦vā(ə)l

feudal law

: being below or at the bottom

—used especially of a tenant who holds of a tenant, especially the lowest tenant of the fee in immediate possession

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French paravale, from Old French par aval below, from par by + aval down, from a to + val valley

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!