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View synonyms for fealty

fealty

[ fee-uhl-tee ]

noun

, plural fe·al·ties.
  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. Synonyms: devotion, loyalty



fealty

/ ˈfiːəltɪ /

noun

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


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Other Words From

  • non·feal·ty noun plural nonfealties
  • un·feal·ty noun plural unfealties

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fealty1

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fealty1

C14: from Old French fealte , from Latin fidēlitās fidelity

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Example Sentences

My own fealty lies with the majestically learned Kaske, under whose tutelage I once studied Gregory the Great’s 4,000-page commentary on the Book of Job.

It was difficult to claim fealty to fiscal conservatism when the party had consistently been instrumental in creating massive deficits.

By the 1980s, however, the tide had begun to turn against the Fairness Doctrine as fealty to market fundamentalism and conservative ideology were ascendant.

Garland merely has to display independence and fealty to equal justice under the law and it will be an improvement.

The mayor’s boldest land use proposal, offered on the way out the door, still pays fealty to the city’s century-long commitment to single-family housing above all.

“It is our Islamic obligation to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State and give it our Islamic fealty,” he said.

They called the Republican bosses and their supporters Stalwarts because of their fealty to tradition.

Republican fealty to the interests of the investor class has been long-standing.

They're not about amassing medals, so much as engendering goodwill; less cut-throat competition, more track and fealty.

That Obama and the Democrats pledge fealty to their donors and their voters should surprise no one.

The history of that terrible hour is brightened by many such instances of native fealty.

And Richard raised each up, kissed him on the mouth, and promised love and protection so long as he observed fealty.

Hakon swore fealty to the King, and likewise to afford him such service as he was bounden to give him.

Hence the oath of fealty was a personal obligation, and investiture was needful before the new feudee took possession.

Harwood realized that he must either decline outright or declare his fealty in a word.

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