freeholder
|free-hold-er|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈfriːˌhoʊldər/
🇬🇧
/ˈfriːˌhəʊldə/
(freehold)
land ownership
Etymology
Etymology Information
'freeholder' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'frehold,' where 'fre' meant 'free' and 'hold' referred to 'possession or tenure.'
Historical Evolution
'frehold' transformed into the modern English word 'freeholder' through the addition of the suffix '-er' to denote a person who holds a freehold.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a person who holds land freely,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who owns their land outright, without any lease or rent obligations.
The freeholder decided to build a new house on his land.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/20 23:28