PROTECTORATE

protectorate. Protectorate, n. a government by a protector

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Pro‐tect″or‐ate (?), n. [[Cf. F. protectorat.]] 1. 1. Government by a protector; — applied especially to the government of England by Oliver Cromwell.
2. 2. 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.