fealty

[fee-uhl-tee]

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

fealty

/ ˈfiːəltɪ /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• nonfealty noun
• unfealty noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fealty¹

C14: from Old French fealte , from Latin fidēlitās _fidelity

Example Sentences

The Disney adults who put out the mouse signal showed their collective power — not one of fealty to a corporation, but of belief that free speech was part of the magic in the Magic Kingdom.

From Salon

How can there be when you have to pay fealty to a delusional dim-wit with the power of a president?

From Salon

For decades these animals – lions, tigers, pumas, cheetahs and jaguars – have been a sign of power, status and even political fealty in the country.

From BBC

This phenomenon is also related to the Republican Party’s fealty to businesses like the fossil fuel industry, which requires denial of climate change to reduce competition from renewable energy sources.

From Salon

“It doesn’t feel like scrutiny on news networks — it feels like fealty,” Stewart said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• faithfulness 
• loyalty