fealty
Americannoun
-
History/Historical.
-
fidelity to a lord.
-
the obligation or the engagement to be faithful to a lord, usually sworn to by a vassal.
-
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Explanation
The noun fealty is another way of saying "loyalty" or "faithfulness." Your sister will allow you to join the secret club meetings in her treehouse only if you first promise fealty to the other members. Some school kids pledge their fealty, or allegiance, to the United States of America every morning in homeroom. But if you think fealty sounds like a word King Arthur would use, you're right: It's really an outdated term that primarily describes a vassal's sworn allegiance to a feudal lord. Fealty, like the word fidelity derives from the Latin root "fidelitas."
Vocabulary lists containing fealty
Freak the Mighty
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Tolkien Reading Day, List 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fealty to the rule of law is not a native instinct.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 24, 2022
Fealty to these lords is not universally passionate.
From Salon • Aug. 28, 2019
Fealty to principle sometimes requires setting aside one’s own preferences.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2018
Fealty is purchased; so are ships and slaves and allies.
From Time • Apr. 15, 2013
But, Fealty, canst thou declare to me The cause why all their pages follow them, When ours in show do ever go before?
From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 6 by Hazlitt, William Carew
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
