pleitesía

homage

noun pleh-teh-SEE-ah Rare

Origin: From Old Spanish pleitesía, from pleito (suit, allegiance)

Also means

deference

Usage Note

Pleitesía is a formal or literary noun meaning the act of paying respect or homage to someone of higher standing; the fixed phrase is rendir pleitesía (to pay homage). It has a slightly archaic or ironic flavor in modern speech — it can be used sincerely (of a crowd honoring a monarch) or sarcastically (of someone fawning excessively).

Examples

"Los ciudadanos rindieron pleitesía al nuevo rey."

Natural Translation

The citizens paid homage to the new king.

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