encomienda

noun

en·​co·​mi·​en·​da

(ˌ)enˌkōmēˈendə,

-ˌkäm-;

ˌenkəmˈyen-

plural -s

: an estate of land and the inhabiting American Indians formerly granted to Spanish colonists or adventurers in America for purposes of tribute and evangelization compare repartimiento

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from encomendar to entrust, from en- en- entry 1 (from Latin in-) + obsolete Spanish comendar to entrust, from Latin commendare

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