encomienda (n.) Look up encomienda at Dictionary.com
"estate granted to a Spaniard in America with powers to tax the Indians," 1810, from Spanish, literally "commission," from or related to encomendar "to commit, charge," from assimilated form of Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + Medieval Latin commendam, from Latin commendare "commit to one's care, commend" (see commend).