fealty

Fealty is defined as something owed to a very powerful person by someone who is loyal to or protected by someone.

(noun)

An example of fealty is a person farming land without payment for someone to whom they are indebted for protection.

See fealty in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. fealties

1. the duty and loyalty owed by a vassal or tenant to his feudal lord
2. an oath of such loyalty
Archaic loyalty; fidelity

Origin: ME feute, fealtye < OFr feauté, fealté < L fidelitas, fidelity

See fealty in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. fe·al·ties

a. The fidelity owed by a vassal to his feudal lord.
b. The oath of such fidelity.
Faithfulness; allegiance. See Synonyms at fidelity.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English fealtye

Origin: , from Old French fealte

Origin: , from Latin fidēlitās, faithfulness

Origin: , from fidēlis, faithful

Origin: , from fidēs, faith; see bheidh- in Indo-European roots

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