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fidalgo

fidalgo

9.9
A man from the lower nobility in Portugal
  • noun
translation icon : fidalgo
  • In the 16th century, a fidalgo would often host lavish feasts to showcase his status.

Examples

  • Whites liked to remind themselves they were Portuguese and fidalgo, and clung, after centuries, to the old ways.

    Blog text (30)
  • The fidalgos of Portugal played a significant role in the country's history, influencing governance and culture.

  • As a young man, he aspired to become a respected fidalgo known for his honorable actions in the community.

Synonyms

nobleman
vsfidalgo
14 5.6

A man from a high social class who has a title

refers to a lower ranked Portuguese aristocrat similar to a minor gentleman

Antonyms

157 3.5

A person who works on land for a living, usually on a small farm

31 4.2

A person without a noble title who is an ordinary member of society

Surface Forms

fidalgo singular
fidalgos plural

Etymology

Fidalgo comes from the old Portuguese phrase filho d'algo, literally 'son of someone important', and it is the Portuguese form of Spanish hidalgo. So a fidalgo became the name for a member of the lower nobility, a minor noble or gentleman in Portugal.