a country that partly controls another country, or the ruler of such a country

As the Transvaal’s suzerain power, it would have been England’s duty to try to avert bloodshed. 作为德兰士瓦的宗主国，英国有责任尽力避免流血事件。

The Hapsburgs were suzerains of the country, but they treated the inhabitants as free men. 哈布斯堡家族是这个国家的领主，但他们把居民当作自由人对待。