stadtholder

== English == === Alternative forms === stadholder, stadhouder === Etymology === Partial calque of Dutch stadthouder (superseded), stadhouder (literally “placeholder”), from Middle Dutch stathouder, itself a calque of Medieval Latin locum tenēns. Doublet of locum tenens and lieutenant. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈstædˌhəʊldə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈstætˌhoʊldɚ/ Hyphenation: stadt‧hold‧er === Noun === stadtholder (plural stadtholders) (historical) The chief provincial magistrate, military commander, and, as a member of the House of Orange, highest-ranking noble in the Dutch Republic, who often served as a de facto head of state alongside the States General; the position became hereditary in 1747 (historical) An office formerly held by Danish and Swedish officials, best translated as governor-general. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === “stadtholder”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. “stadholder”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.