Define: A Me

In feudal grants, this phrase denotes a form of tenure where the landholder directly holds the land from the chief lord. Derived from the Latin phrase “a me de superiore meo,” it signifies that the land is granted by the superior lord to the recipient. Essentially, it implies that while the land is given, the recipient is still accountable to both the grantor and their superior.

A MEA me (ay mee) is a Latin phrase that signifies “from me.” It was employed in feudal grants to indicate that an individual held tenure directly from the chief lord. The phrase is an abbreviation for “a me de superiore meo” (ay mee dee s[y]oo-peer-ee-or-ee mee-oh), which translates to “from me of my superior.” This expression is similar to “de me,” which means “from me.” For instance, John received a grant of land from the king, and the grant stated that John held the land “a me.” This indicated that John held the land directly from the king, without any intermediaries. Similarly, Mary inherited a piece of land from her father, who had held the land “a me” from the lord of the manor. This meant that Mary now held the land directly from the lord of the manor. These examples demonstrate how the phrase “a me” was used in feudal grants to establish the direct relationship between the tenant and the lord. In both cases, the tenant held the land “a me,” signifying that they held it directly from the superior lord, without any intermediaries.

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This glossary post was last updated: 26th April 2024.