noun
favorite retainer; court favorite
Historical term for a retainer or courtier who enjoyed the special favor of a lord or monarch. Used in contexts of feudal or imperial courts.
彼は将軍の寵臣として権勢を振るった。
He wielded power as the shogun's favorite retainer.
寵臣の存在はしばしば他の家臣の嫉妬を招いた。
The presence of a court favorite often invited jealousy from other retainers.
Compound of 寵 (favor, affection) and 臣 (retainer, subject). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with the concept of a favored vassal in pre-modern court settings.