Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for PAR-A-VAIL
PA-RAT'O-MOUSPAR'A-VANT, or PAR'A-VAUNT
PAR-A-VAIL, a. [Norm. par, by, and availe, profit.]
In feudal law, the tenant paravail, is the lowest tenant holding under a mean or mediate lord, as distinguished from a tenant in capite, who holds immediately of the king. – Blackstone.
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