1. (n.) Government by a protector; -- applied especially to the government of England by Oliver Cromwell.
2. (n.) The authority assumed by a superior power over an inferior or a dependent one, whereby the former protects the latter from invasion and shares in the management of its affairs.
Thesaurus Entries
aedileship, ally, archbishopric, archduchy, archdukedom, archiepiscopacy, archiepiscopate, aristocracy, bishopric, body politic, buffer state, captive nation, chairmanship, chancellery, chancellorate, chancellorship, chiefery, chiefry, chieftaincy, chieftainry, chieftainship, city-state, colony, commonweal, commonwealth, consulate, consulship, country, county, deanery, dictatorship, dictature, directorship, domain, dominion, duchy, dukedom, earldom, emirate, empery, empire, episcopacy, free city, governorship, grand duchy, headship, hegemony, hierarchy, kingdom, land, leadership, lordship, magistracy, magistrateship, magistrature, mandant, mandate, mandated territory, mandatee, mandatory, masterdom, mastership, mastery, mayoralty, mayorship, metropolitanate, metropolitanship, nation, nationality, nobility, papacy, pashadom, pashalic, patriarchate, patriarchy, polis, polity, pontificality, pontificate, popedom, popehood, popeship, possession, power, prefectship, prefecture, premiership, presidency, presidentship, prime-ministership, prime-ministry, princedom, princeship, principality, principate, proconsulate, proconsulship, protectorship, province, provostry, provostship, puppet government, puppet regime, realm, rectorate, rectorship, regency, regentship, republic, ruling class, satellite, seigniory, seneschalship, seneschalsy, seneschalty, settlement, sheikhdom, sheriffalty, sheriffcy, sheriffdom, shrievalty, sovereign nation, state, sultanate, superpower, supervisorship, suzerainship, suzerainty, territory, toparchia, toparchy, tribunate, vizierate, viziership
