a. and sb. [ad. med.L. al(l)ōdiāl-is, f. ALLODI-UM + -AL 1. Cf. Fr. al-, allodial (Cotgr.).] As to spelling see allodium.
A. adj. 1. Of or pertaining to an allodium; held in absolute ownership.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Allodial Lands, free Lands, for which no Rents, Fines, nor Services are due.
1677. Hobbes, Dial. Comm. Laws, 199. When a Man holds his Land from the gift of God only, which Lands Civilians call Allodial.
1795. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. 1842, II. 549. These estates … were not fiefs; they were to all purposes allodial.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. iii. 95. The King … might have his ancient allodial property.
2. Of or pertaining to the holding of land in absolute ownership; e.g., the allodial system as opposed to the feudal system.
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 364. The same privileges and allodial rights as had been enjoyed by the original proprietors.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., I. App. II. 246. Territory … possessed by an allodial or free title.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. ii. 34. We dare not say that we have a perfect alodial system.
3. Owning an allodium; holding in absolute ownership.
1857. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., II. 264. A patch of arable tilled by the remaining allodial rustics.
1872. Freeman, Eng. Const., 77. The feudal tenant holding his land of a lord by military service, gradually supplanted … the allodial holder who held his land of no other man.
B. sb. 1. Allodial lands.
1769. Ann. Reg., 163/1. The King of Naples as possessor of the allodials of the family of Farnese.
1807. Coxe, House of Austria, I. I. xxii. 375 (L.). The allodials, were adjudged to the sons of Robert and Elizabeth.
2. An allodial holder; an allodiary.
1778. Ld. Malmesbury, Priv. Lett., I. 371. Room ought to have been left for the claims of the Allodiels.
