allegiance Hear it!

allegiance definition

al·le·giance (ə lē′jəns)

noun

  1. the duty that was owed by a vassal to his feudal lord
  2. the obligation of support and loyalty to one's ruler, government, or country
  3. loyalty or devotion, as to a cause, person, etc.

Etymology: ME alligeaunce, altered (after allegeaunce, a formal declaration < aleggen, allege) < OFr ligeance < lige, liege (see liege); sense affected by assoc. with L ligare, to bind

Related Forms:

  • allegiant al·le′·giant (-jənt) adjective, noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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