Definition

A person in charge of managing a noble household, overseeing domestic tasks and the staff, especially in medieval times.

Example

The seneschal organized the feast and ensured everything was in order for the guests.

Conversation

Have you ever wondered what a seneschal did in medieval times?

Yeah, I think they were in charge of managing a lord's household, right?

Exactly! It must have been a tough job to oversee all those servants.

For sure, I can’t imagine the responsibility that came with being a seneschal.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Seneschal is derived from the Old French word 'seneschal' (meaning steward or chief servant), which itself comes from the Late Latin 'seniscalcus' (meaning steward), a combination of 'senex' (meaning old) and 'calcare' (meaning to tread or to walk). The term originally referred to an official who managed a household or estate, particularly in a noble context.

Memory Tip

Imagine an 'old' ('senex') steward 'walking' ('calcare') through a grand estate, overseeing everything — that's what a seneschal does.

Visually Confused Words