allegiance

The definition of allegiance means giving a promise to be loyal, or the action of actually being loyal and on someone's side.

(noun)

  1. Swearing that you will follow the laws of a country is an example of giving allegiance.
  2. Always defending your friend and looking out for his best interests is an example of allegiance to your friend.

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See allegiance in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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.

Origin: 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:

See allegiance in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Loyalty or the obligation of loyalty, as to a nation, sovereign, or cause. See Synonyms at fidelity.
  2. The obligations of a vassal to a lord.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English alligeaunce

Origin: , alteration of ligeaunce

Origin: , from Old French ligeance

Origin: , from lige, liege; see liege

.

Related Forms:

  • al·leˈgiant adjective

See allegiance in Ologies

Allegiance

See also nationalism.

abjuration

the act of renouncing upon oath, as by an alien applying for citizenship who renounces allegiance to a former country of nationality.

defection

the act of abandoning a person or cause to which one has an obligation or allegiance, especially accompanied by flight from one’s country. —defector, defectionist, n.

fealty

1. In the Feudal System, allegiance of a vassal to his lord.

2. allegiance.

genuflection

kneeling or bending the knee, especially in worship or reverence.

Myrmidon

a follower who obeys orders without question. —myrmidonian, adj.

obeisance

1. a gesture of respect, as a bow.

2. homage or an act of homage. —obeisant, adj.

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