fealty

American  

[fee-uhl-tee] / ˈfi əl ti /

noun

plural

fealties

1. History/Historical.

   1. fidelity to a lord.

   2. the obligation or the engagement to be faithful to a lord, usually sworn to by a vassal.

2. fidelity; faithfulness.

   Synonyms:

   devotion, loyalty

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fealty British  

/ ˈfiːəltɪ /

noun

1. (in feudal society) the loyalty sworn to one's lord on becoming his vassal See homage

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Other Word Forms

• nonfealty noun
• unfealty noun

Etymology

Origin of fealty

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English feute, feaute, fealtye, from Anglo-French, Old French feauté, fealté, from Latin fidēlitāt- (stem of fidēlitās ) fidelity; internal -au-, -al- from feal, reshaping (by substitution of -al- -al ¹ ) of fe(d)eil, from Latin fidēlis

Example Sentences

On Monday, Iranian state-affiliated TV channels broadcast rallies from all across the country depicting masses of people gathering in main squares to express their fealty.

From Los Angeles Times

Soldiers fight, Chesterton says, because their cause is bound up with their affections for their family and fealty to their God.

From The Wall Street Journal

He yelled, and she dismounted from his head and dipped her nose to his hand in fealty.

From Literature

But Europeans are increasingly concerned that displays of praise and fealty aren’t working.

From The Wall Street Journal

He declared unconditional fealty to Tucker Carlson, who he said “always will be a close friend of the Heritage Foundation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• faithfulness
• loyalty