lieutenancy

1 8.1

A job held by a junior officer in the military or police

noun
/luˈtɛnənsi/

Specialized

: tenencia

He was thrilled to receive a lieutenancy in the police force after years of hard work.
a second lieutenancy

Examples

You know, the promotion for lieutenancy comes up this month.

The Detective (1968)
Give him a glimpse perhaps of the kind society that would be his, if he accepts a lieutenancy in my guard.

The Three Musketeers (1948)
As part of his military training, he learned about the responsibilities that come with a lieutenancy.
After serving for three years, she was promoted to a lieutenancy, marking a significant achievement in her career.

Synonyms

officership

vslieutenancy

1 7.0

The rank and skills of a person who leads others in the military or an organization

is a specific lower leadership position within that rank group

Surface Forms

lieutenancy singular

lieutenancies plural

Morphology

lieutenancy = lieutenant (transparent) = lieutenant + cy

Formed from 'lieutenant' plus the noun-forming suffix '-cy' to denote the office or state, a direct and predictable meaning for learners.

Etymology

Lieutenancy comes from lieu 'place' and tenant 'holding'. It began as a 'place-holder' for a leader, so a lieutenancy is the office of a lieutenant, the job of holding a leader's place and helping to lead the unit.